Harbour action call as ‘rats crawl from walls’
RATS are crawling in and out of the walls and running across footpaths at a popular harbour in Carmarthenshire, it is claimed.
Burry Port harbour has been branded “disgraceful” and “embarrassing” as weeds and bushes are said to be growing out of the harbour walls and have started attracting rats, which have been running across footpaths and feeding from bins in broad daylight in front of families.
A build-up of sand on some of the pathways is also claimed to have been causing accessibility issues for those using wheelchairs and mobility scooters visiting the area.
A Carmarthenshire Council executive board member said it had spent millions on the harbour with more investment to come and that people should be ‘celebrating Burry Port as the great destination for tourism that it is’.
Pembrey and Burry Port town councillor and chairman of Friends of Burry Port Harbour, Councillor Les George, however, called the recent state of the harbour “nothing but an embarrassment and an eyesore”.
He said: “Our harbour has been left to deteriorate and stagnate over the last couple of years but recently people have been complaining about the condition of it.
“There’s a sand build-up on the west side promenade which means people who use mobility scooters or wheelchairs are unable to get there. This is not right and not fair to them as they need to enjoy our panoramic views as much as anyone else.
“The walls on the west side, there are trees growing out of them, as well as brambles and bushes, and it’s a breeding ground for rats. It is destroying our ancient walls which are supposed to be protected by CADW. It’s irresponsible to allow the walls to fall into such a state.”
Burry Port has also suffered other problems recently, with gangs of youths said to be travelling there to drink and fight each other.
Mr George explained that the community group was “so proud” of the town’s heritage but has called for action to be taken. He added: “We feel that we have been let down badly by Carmarthenshire Council.
“Our toilets have gone on the east and west side but Pembrey and Burry Port Town Council have helped out with portable toilets on the east side and Crazie Crepes helped out with a toilet on the west side which we were very grateful for.
“We need the council to address the neglect as soon as possible and clear the pathways of sand and take the weeds, brambles and bushes away from the harbour walls to eradicate the rats.
“We attract a lot of visitors to Burry Port. We have got so much to offer.
“We see people coming down and we are delighted because it’s a beautiful area but it’s been neglected and ignored.”
Geoff Thomas, chairman of the Pembrey and Burry Port Heritage Society, said the state of the harbour had become “out of control”.
He added: “The harbour needs to be cleaned up. It’s in an atrocious state. The council seem to have forgotten about the harbour.”
County councillor John James said: “I commend the actions of the public in bringing these issues into the public domain.
“There’s no doubting Carmarthenshire Council has put money into the harbour area, and continue to do so, but these concerns raised are serious ones and need to be addressed, answers and actions need to be put in place now.
“First and foremost are the issues regarding the health and safety of everyone concerned with the harbour, such as residents, visitors, businesses, people who work there, volunteer groups such as RNLI, vulnerable groups, and those who use the harbour for health and recreation activities, the list goes on.
“These groups need to be reassured that the Burry Port Harbour is safe for them to be there.
“Burry Port Harbour was once a jewel in the Carma r t h e n s h i re Council’s crown, sadly, the crown has slipped, but between us all we can put it back where it belongs, top of the list to visit and enjoy the best of what Mother Nature has bestowed upon us.” Carmarthenshire Council’s executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, Councillor Peter Hughes Griffiths, explained that almost £2 million had been spent on the harbour walls this year. He said: “This administration has invested unprecedented amounts of money in Burry Port Harbour with nearly £2m spent on the harbour walls this last year alone and refurbishment of the lighthouse to get under way soon.
“We are delighted that the dredging of the harbour continues and is now bringing down levels of silt to points not seen for many years.
“This investment has led to increasing private sector engagement with a lease now agreed with a local operator for a cafe and public toilet on the east side of the harbour, and the refurbishment of the old RNLI harbour office recently started by The Marine Group.
“We don’t recognise these negative descriptions of Burry Port. We’re happy to discuss any matters with the Friends of Burry Port Harbour Group – they should be aware that our door is always open to them, they only need to get in touch. We should be celebrating Burry Port as the great destination for tourism that it is.”
Our harbour has been left to deteriorate and stagnate over the last couple of years but recently people have been complaining about the condition of it
Cllr Les George