sand dune 'management'

flower_girl · #1 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 09:03 AM

Holiday homeowner upsets locals by bulldozing through 50ft sand dune to get a better view | Mail Online

MP 'gobsmacked' as doctor flattens sand dune - Blackpool Today

I would like to see if anyone has any views regarding wildlife/habitat/sea defence protection on privatly owned land. This area wasn't designated a SSSI only a locally designated Biological Heritage Site (non-statutory, county level). I'm sure simular situations are played out across the county with private land owners and as a conservationist I worry about our environmental protection.

muldonach · #2 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 10:54 AM

Well I hope he's happy with it! It does not look like a greatly improved view to me at least. Also hope his house is far enough back to avoid the windows getting sandblasted when a winter gale funnels through that lot!

It does not look like a particularly positive move either practically or politically

Regards
mac

Tursiops2 · #3 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 11:36 AM

What a prat!

The next Spring tide backed by a sou'westerly will see his house under a foot of water - and his neighbours'

.

Lancashire Lad · #4 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 12:47 PM

He claims the dunes in question are not natural, but man-made, as a result of wind swept sand on the road (over the last 20 years) having been cleared up by the council, and deposited at the side of the road, thus creating the dunes.

All I can say to this is - there must have been one hell of a lot of wind swept sand that needed clearing up

Surely someone must have photographic records of what these dunes have looked like over the years?

Apart from the damage done to the stability of the dune system itself, and to ecosystems of the flora/fauna of the dunes, it strikes me that he will have laid himself open to some pretty hefty compensation claims if the sea should at some future time breach the "hole" and cause flood damage to neighbouring properties.

And as for him saying he has improved his view.

Regards
Mike.

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 22-05-2009, 12:50 PM

The idiot now has a clear and unobstructed view of a lampost - is that going next

Wild-Woman · #6 (**permalink**) 24-05-2009, 07:39 AM

Nice place to sit and have a picnic. Out of the wind, kids containable. I fear his decision may end up with him looking a groups of holiday-makers enjoying his bit of beach.
Oh well- his choice. I suspect nature will fill this gap in once there's a few storms.

hobble · #7 (**permalink**) 24-05-2009, 07:48 AM

There is a man made sand dune on the beach near me, it was made with big metal gabions filled with stones around 28 years ago. From any part of the village back then all householders could see the sea and beach.
Various attempts over the years have been made to plant grasses on the dunes which have always been trampled by people. They have been fenced off numerous times and the sand from the beach just covers the post and wire (not safe) fencing.
We did have a large green area which was natural where people would picnic etc but over the years this green space is shrinking, in fact soon it will all be sand.
I believe the sand should be put back on the beach or the dunes managed in somehow and would be interested in any other dune stories.
The council have spent a fortune over the years mucking about with these dunes and now they just ignore them. They are out of hand.

acherontia · #8 (**permalink**) 27-05-2009, 08:46 PM

How very near sighted this man is. OK - so this may not cause untold damage but if everyone did this it would.
OH is supposed to be recording moths in this habitat soon( St Annes section of dunes) for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust but if this sort of attitude catches on there may not be very many left to record .......

He might fancy himself as another Donald Trump eh? Perhaps the grass he's planting is to practise teeing off from onto the beach.

The mind boggles - I hope he uses a little more intelligence whilst operating on patients.
Mental note - do not go to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for surgery........

Acherontia

KeenTeen17 · #9 (**permalink**) 27-05-2009, 10:27 PM

I drove past on Sunday and it looked like the dune had been remade. I couldn't see any big gaps in the dune barrier

flower_girl · #10 (**permalink**) 28-05-2009, 09:33 AM

The gap is definately still there!! (well was yesterday...)

Don't worry about going to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital, this chap doesn't work there - that was made up the journalists. He's more of the private consultant type... try google.

Taking a surgical approach to sand dunes certainly isn't reccomended!