'Eyesore' Christmas trees to be removed from Cornwall beach

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council-remove-christmas-trees-porthtowan-beach-cornwall

Locals are celebrating after Cornwall Council has finally decided to remove Christmas trees from a beach that were said to be ruining the tourism business.

Around 100 trees were planted at Porthtowan beach in January as part of an anti-erosion conservation bid to preserve sand dunes.

It was hoped dunes would form around them, but the Porthtowan Dunes Community Group say the conservation plan has failed, leaving the sad-looking Christmas trees sticking out of the sand, creating an eyesore.

But Cornwall Council has now worked with the Porthtowan Dunes Community Group and agreed to tackle the problem.

A spokesman for the council said it would reduce the number of trees, while some of the trees would be replanted in tightly-packed rows.

The spokesman told the West Briton: "The trees will be partially buried but with some left above the ground to continue to trap wind blown sand and to help to protect and enhance the area as an important natural sea defence.

"Any trees that are not reused will be removed from the area and recycled."

During the Easter holidays, local businesses were up in arms over the trees, saying they were putting off tourists from visiting.

Chris Smith, who runs an ice cream parlour in Porthtowan, told the Western Morning News: "It's just awful, it really is.

"Everyone is really concerned about Easter. It's not the sort of thing tourists want to see."

Speaking to the BBC, a council member added: "These actions look to continue to protect the vulnerable front of the dune by utilising some of the Christmas trees in a few tighter packed rows covering a smaller overall area of the dune.

"The trees will be partially buried but with some left above the ground to continue to trap wind blown sand and to help to protect and enhance the area as an important natural sea defence."




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