Action taken to prevent beach dumping

A TRUST rapped for dumping waste on a St Andrews beach says it has taken action to prevent the incident being repeated.

St Andrews Harbour Trust and its contractor were issued with warning letters by environment agency Sepa after tonnes of debris were tipped on to East Sands in August last year.

Beach users were horrified to find piles of silt dredged from the harbour — containing scrap metal, plastic and tyres — had turned the water black.

Sepa, which erected a sign warning people against swimming or paddling in the water for several days, said the deposits breached environmental legislation.

Dumping of the silt by the contractor was approved by Marine Scotland but it was supposed to be in an authorised area outside the harbour.

Trust chairman Dr Cameron Rae said: “We were as distressed about this as everyone else.

“There is an audit taking place looking at the process for carrying out similar work in the future to ensure that it is robust and that this doesn’t happen again.”

A Sepa spokesman said: “The harbour trust now has procedures in place to ensure that such incidents do not occur again and Sepa continues to work with Marine Scotland to ensure that any licences they issue for dredging activities have due regard to any designated bathing waters.”