Wirral Letters: Cockling in Leasowe December 1

Dec 1 2010 by Jane Clare, Birkenhead News

The wrong decision

I WAS amazed to see next to the boat-yard opposite the beach guard Station at Harrison Drive, a notice advising of commercial cockling.

As far as I am aware there has been no public notification that such an operation was about to begin.

This is one of the most attractive beaches on this stretch of coastline. . Surely commercial cockling will result in great damage to the birds' and human habitat with the destruction of the resources on which the wildlife relies?

As far as I can see, there has been no supervision taking place of the operation.

How does this decision sit with other council services such as coastal regeneration, the wildlife Rangers and the other services provided in Wirral's parks and beaches?

I believe it is disgraceful this operation has been allowed.

Councillor Pat Glasman

New Brighton Ward

Horrified

I WONDER who on Wirral Council could ever have thought it was a good idea to open up Leasowe Bay to the hoards of cocklers.

When I heard of their impending arrival I was horrified and time has proved my suspicions that the foreshore would resemble a rubbish tip to be correct.

After a visit on Sunday I found men sleeping in cars, camping in tents and the beach strewn with nets, plastic bottles, rubber gloves, and various other unidentifiable objects.

I only hope the clean-up bill does not mean another council tax increase.

Jo Naylor

Frankby

Action needed

HAVING read the reports and concerns of other Wirral residents, I wish to ask, do North West Sea Fisheries Committee have the right to force Wirral Council to allow free access to the Leasowe cockle beds via their land.

If they do have the right they should be forced to foot the bill for the clean up operation.

If they do not have the right then Wirral Council should respond to the concerns of local people and stop the activities forthwith.

I would remind Wirral Council the area accessed from Green Lane Wallasey and the Gun-site Picnic area is a local beauty spot which is also an important winter feeding area for birds. The sand hills, we are told, have a delicate eco-system which Wirral residents have been trying to preserve. How the eco-system will be affected by the trash being trampled around I dread to think.

These fishermen may have mortgages to pay but that should not mean that we Wirral residents are forced to allow them to wreck the environment that we have worked so hard to preserve and enhance.

Jessie Pownall

Moreton

Give us views

WHAT is notable in the news coverage of this chaos to date is that the council has thrown blame on NWNWSFC. It might appear to an inattentive reader the council has no link to or influence over that committee.

What is interesting is that the NWNWSFC website indicates Wirral councillors D Knowles (Tory) and H Smith (Labour) are members of the committee and Mr Knowles is the vice-chair. I tried to contact these councillors to ask whether they agreed with the devastation that has occurred and what they are going to do to stop it.

Perhaps though, if these councillors value their position locally they should share the answers to these questions with us all as a community?

David Gray

Via email