A large group of volunteers cleaned litter and debris from Pendine beach recently as part of the new 'Clean Coasts' initiative, which is being developed by Carmarthenshire County Council and the Keep Wales Tidy Campaign.

The initiative stems from the KWT 'Clean Rivers' project which aims to promote a greater sense of community ownership and increase the profile of the river as a local amenity to be enjoyed by those settlements through which the rivers flow. The 'Clean Coasts' project is an extension of the rivers project.

The Keep Wales Tidy Campaign (KWTC) are eager to develop these projects in Carmarthenshire and have identified a need for a project officer to co-ordinate both river and coastal maintenance projects in the county. A bid to fund the project is to be supported by Carmarthenshire County Council who will supply the project officer with office furniture, administrative and technical support, use of the fax machine, photocopier, IT equipment and telephone, as well as various litter picking, collection and transportation tools which will enable more community groups to evolve.

To kick off the project in Carmarthenshire, 44 local volunteers, of all ages, cleaned the beach at Pendine, collecting 250 bags of litter and debris. The group was supported by KWTC project officer for Wales, Chris Corcoran, who is based in Pembroke Dock, after local resident Molly Pendlebury rallied together a band of eager volunteers.

Mr. Corcoran, who took part in the clean up exercise at Pendine, said: "It's hugely rewarding, both for myself and the volunteers involved, to see the beautiful beaches Carmarthenshire possesses cleaned up and restored to their natural state.

"We get all sorts of litter washed up or thrown onto our beaches; much of it is non-biodegradable and is not only an eyesore, but can be harmful to the habitat a beach provides."

Mr. Corcoran added: "The Coastcare groups are assisted financially by the Keep Wales Tidy Campaign and can be involved in organising a wide variety of conservation projects, as well as beach and coastal maintenance."

Cabinet member for environment, Pam Palmer, said: "These voluntary groups give up their free time to carry out an important job to their local environment. They are members of the public putting in their time to keep clean the environment around us so that it can be enjoyed by future generations."

A similar group is currently being set up to take care of Marros Beach, near Pendine. The group, known as Marros Beach Coastcare Group, is planning to meet regularly a number of times a year to clear the litter which washes up on to the beach.

New members are very welcome to join the group and should contact Jeremy Bowen-Rees on (01994) 240631, e-mail J. [email protected]">[email protected].

For information regarding Pendine, contact Molly Pendlebury on (01994) 453437.

Anyone requiring further information on these projects nationwide should contact the KWTC project officer, Chris Corcoran, telephone (01646) 681949.