Local residents living near one of Britain’s most picturesque beaches have expressed their fury at the actions of the local council, which they claim is using their pristine white sand to sell off and make a profit.
Residents and tourists in Hayle, Cornwall, are unhappy with the actions of local authorities, with some even calling their antics “disgusting”.
Sophie Daniels, who lives in the area, started the petition because she felt the sand was being “mined for profit” and “sold without any thought to the environmental impacts”.
However, authorities say the sand sold to local companies is being dredged as part of a legal requirement to maintain “a safe channel for fishing and sailing vessels to navigate.”
Ms Daniels said: ‘In recent times our once peaceful beach is suffering as tonnes of sand are removed day and night and sold for profit with no thought to the environmental repercussions.
Residents and tourists in Hayle, Cornwall, claim tonnes of sand have been removed from the beach ‘day and night’
When MailOnline visited the site this week, we witnessed giant excavators scooping up tonnes of sand from the shore before loading it onto large earth-moving equipment.
A petition demanding an immediate halt to mining operations at Hayle Beach – named the best beach in the UK by the Sunday Times – has already received almost 2,000 signatures.
‘The authorities justify the mining exploitation by claiming that it is necessary to keep the channel free for fishermen.
“But the reality is clearly different. The excavations are taking place on the beach, far from the central canal that they claim to keep clean.”
‘The beach is suffering because tons of sand are removed day and night and sold for profit without thinking about the environmental impact.
Deborah Phillips, 58, a social worker from nearby Helston, said: “It’s pretty outrageous but I’m sure it comes down to money.
“I don’t think they’ll listen to the petition. This is a show of greed for the people once again, but the people behind this don’t care, they don’t care about the families who have been coming here all their lives.”
‘What unintended environmental consequences will this cause in the coming years?
The petition calling for an immediate halt to mining operations at Hayle Beach has already received almost 2,000 signatures.
When MailOnline visited the site this week, we witnessed giant excavators scooping up tonnes of sand from the shore before loading it onto large earth-moving equipment.
Locals Margaret Abbotts (left) and Deborah Phillips (right) said: “The beach is for everyone and should not be sold” and “it all comes down to money.”
Tourist Terry Soar from Nottingham said: “I think it’s disgusting”
Officials say the sand is sold to local businesses but is only dredged as part of a legal requirement to maintain “a safe channel for fishing and sailing vessels to navigate.”
Angry local residents who signed the petition complained that the night-time digging operations were causing unrest and accused authorities of causing “environmental damage” and “stealing” sand from the beach.
“Our demand is simple: stop sand extraction immediately.”
Angry local residents who signed the petition complained that late-night digging operations were causing disturbances and accused authorities of causing “environmental damage” and “stealing” sand from the beach instead of dredging the canal.
The beautiful seaside town of Hayle is located just five miles from St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall and boasts over three miles of unspoilt coastline.
Today it is a popular tourist destination and was the most important mining port and home to the largest steam engine manufacturers in the world in the early 19th century.
Nottingham tourists Terry and Lynn Soar have been regular visitors for more than a decade.
Mr Soar said: “I think it’s disgusting that they’re taking the sand and selling it.
‘Hayle Beach is what makes the whole town unique, it has beautiful golden sand and is completely unspoilt.
‘I think it’s a really stupid decision because tourists are a huge part of Cornwall’s economy and a lot of those people come for the beautiful beaches.
“If you lose them, people won’t come.”
The beautiful seaside town of Hayle is located just five miles from St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall and boasts over three miles of unspoilt coastline.
Today it is a popular tourist destination and was the most important mining port and home to the largest steam engine manufacturers in the world in the early 19th century.
Ms Soar added: “I can’t imagine the damage this is doing to marine life that may not come back.”
Margaret Abbotts, 59, a lifelong Hayle resident, said: ‘Dredging the canal is something they have to do to keep it clean and some people in this town get nervous about it.
‘It’s a shame that any dredging is necessary, but if it protects the livelihood of the fishermen who use the canal then I think it’s necessary.
“But I’m not happy about the beach being dug up and sold. I’ve grown up visiting it over the years and everyone can see the changes it’s undergone over the years.
“The beach belongs to everyone and should not be sold.”
Peter Haddock, Hayle Harbour Master, told Cornwall Live: ‘Regular dredging is needed in four areas of Hayle Harbour to provide a safe channel for fishing and sailing boats to navigate.
‘Dredging also maximises tidal flow to naturally clean the channel, maintaining the estuary ecosystem and helping to manage flood risk.
‘Hayle Harbour Authority is responsible for regular dredging under the Hayle Harbour Act 1989.
‘The dredged sand is sold to local company Padstow Sea Sand and Aggregate Ltd.’
Peter Haddock, Hayle Harbour Master, told Cornwall Live: ‘Regular dredging is needed in four areas of Hayle Harbour to provide a safe channel for fishing and sailing boats to navigate.
A Hayle Council spokesman said a full council meeting was held on September 5.
Cornwall Live reports during the meeting that “updates were received from the harbour master on behalf of Hayle Harbour Authority and representatives of North Quay Development, who own and are responsible for that area.”
It was confirmed that dredging in accordance with the Hayle Harbour Act 1989 is permitted and that the amount of sand “removed from the channel is recorded and closely monitored”.
In a post shared on Facebook, the spokesperson said: ‘Councillors recognise the need for a safe navigable channel to access the harbour but ultimately also have serious concerns about the potential long-term damage to the local environment and ecology and believe that re-establishing a routine cleaning regime would be more beneficial and acceptable to the Hayle community.
‘Hayle Council has decided to write to a number of stakeholders including Natural England, RSPB, the Environment Agency, Cornwall County Council and the local MP, Perran Moon, to inform them of the potential harm from dredging, to ask for their views, to share any information they may have including environmental reports, monitoring assessments, geomorphology reports and to work with us to help find a positive resolution that satisfies/benefits all parties and St Ives Bay.
‘It was also agreed to write to the owners and the harbour master to request that they change from a dredging and removal policy to a dredging and dune replacement policy, and to look into ways to repair and/or automate the gates and equipment to restore the lock system.’
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