Why is sand being moved around on Tenby harbour and North Beach? from bank tar ham Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 1:19
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✓ Published: 28-Mar-2024

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Over the first week of the Easter holidays, and heading into Good Friday and the busy Bank Holiday, many visitors to Tenby have been wandering what all the work taking place on the sands of the seaside town’s North Beach and harbour is for?<br/>Tenby Harbour and North Beach users have been asked to be aware of heavy moving machinery since Tuesday (March 26) to Friday, March 29 as dredging work is carried out.<br/>Sand is being removed from the mouth of the Harbour and deposited at the north end of the beach. The work will not affect vessel movements at the Harbour.<br/>Dredging has taken place annually around the harbour area over the past few years, after concerns were expressed by local councillors and harbour users that high levels of sandbanks that were forming, were causing disruption to boats entering and exiting the area.<br/>Pembrokeshire County Council has come in for heavy criticism of late for not tackling the problem, with some harbour users voicing their concerns that it is becoming ‘unworkable’.<br/>The annual operation to crane the boats back into the harbour waters is scheduled to take place after the Easter holidays on Wednesday, April 10.<br/>Renewed calls have been made to the Local Authority regarding operational difficulties at the harbour, with fears expressed that the area will become unusable if sandbanks continue to develop at an alarming rate. <br/>Councillors and members of Tenby Harbour Users Association have previously flagged-up concerns to Pembrokeshire County Council about the high level of sand sweeping towards Goscar Rock across the North Beach, leaving high sandbanks around a large section of the harbour seabed, making it difficult for boats to get in and out of the area.<br/>County councillor for Tenby’s North ward Cllr Michael Williams last year underlined the ongoing concerns: “Such are the limitations now in Tenby harbour, it might be time to review the level of harbour dues in particular as they relate to commercial users, as they find it more and more difficult to use the harbour, but the limitations of access to moorings affects all users,” he told the Observer.<br/>“There should be a critical examination of what exactly mooring holders pay for, and does what they pay reflect value for money? Access has recently become difficult and indeed can be dangerous to visiting fin keel yachts such is the limitations on vessel draft.<br/>“I note that many nautical almanacs no longer offer correct advice to visiting vessels due to the diminishing depth available when entering the harbour,” he continued.<br/>On the work currently taking place, Tenby Harbourmaster Chris Salisbury said: “We ask that the public please keep clear of the operating area and that dogs are kept on a lead during this time,” Chris said,.<br/>Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services, said: “The timing of the work has been governed by the tide and the dates represented the last opportunity for the work to be carried out before the boats are placed back in the water.”