Home / Environment / Dorset Beach Becomes Rubbish Tip After Sea Defences Removed
Dorset Beach Becomes Rubbish Tip After Sea Defences Removed
9 Jan
Summary
- Sea defences removed, accelerating erosion and exposing old rubbish tip.
- Tons of waste, including asbestos, now washes onto the beach.
- Volunteers conduct daily clean-ups amid local and expert criticism.
Middle Beach in Dorset, once a tranquil spot favored by Enid Blyton, has been transformed into a 'horrific eyesore' following the National Trust's decision to remove its sea defences in September. This move, intended to allow nature to 'take its course' through a 'managed retreat' policy, has inadvertently accelerated coastal erosion.
The accelerated erosion has exposed a long-buried rubbish tip, causing tons of waste, including dangerous asbestos sheeting, to wash onto the beach. A Victorian toilet block filled with decades of plastic, glass, and metal has also been unearthed, creating significant environmental and health concerns for the area.
National Trust volunteers are now engaged in daily clean-up operations. Local council chairman Nick Boulter expressed dismay, noting that warning signs now mark the beach as 'dangerous'. The National Trust stated that sea defences would not have been effective against rising tides and aimed for a gentler cliff slope over the next 20 years, but the immediate impact has been the unearthing of substantial waste.
