Pembrokeshire County Council have stated that dredging sand from Tenby’s North beach and harbour area is not a ‘feasible solution’ to solving the sand level problems on South Beach, as there is not enough ‘going spare’.

Warning signs have now been placed on the resort’s South Beach telling visitors to watch out for exposed power cables and trip hazards, which are now prominent due to the erosion on the once ‘golden sands’.

During a recent discussion on the matter at Tenby town council, Clr. Paul Rapi told his colleagues that a plan of action was urgently needed for this beach which he described as ‘dreadful at this moment in time’ ironically in the same month that the resort retained its Blue Flag status for beaches.

“At this rate we’re not going to have golden sands, as the South Beach has got no sand on it, with the pebbles underneath now showing up!” remarked Clr. Rapi, stating that the groynes that used to be present to interrupt the water flow some 15 years ago needed to be put back in.

“In the last five years, I’ve never seen a change in the weather like it, and on that beach - the golf course is getting shorter and shorter too,” he added.

Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter also raised her concerns that the exposed power cables that take electricity to Caldey Island which were once 11 metres deep are now being revealed, along with other hazards, such as sandbags.

In an interview given to the BBC last week, PCC’s coastal engineer Emyr Williams said that he believed the sand would return to the South Beach by the summer.

“This sort of coastal change comes in cycles - it has happened before although I would admit that it’s particularly bad this year,” he commented.

“The sand will return eventually - probably in time for the school holidays. Dredging isn’t the answer though.

“The volumes of sand needed to build a decent beach here would be enormous - around ten million cubic metres at enormous expense and for no obvious benefit,” he added.

A?spokesperson for the Authority said: “Over recent years, South Beach in Tenby has occasionally seen a noticeable decrease in sand levels.

“Part of this is due to the natural fluctuations of sand levels which occurs on all beaches - from year to year, and during the year itself.

“It is anticipated that climate change will increase this effect as higher sea levels result in deeper water nearer to the shore, which leads to bigger waves and additional impact on the sand.

“Another reason for the movement of sand at South Beach is the natural tidal drift leading to the migration of sand into the former estuary of the River Ritec which was closed off when the railway line was built in the 1850s.

“The sand used to be pushed out of the estuary by the tide and back to the Penally end of the beach but since that was prevented, the sand has built up.

“This drop in beach levels has caused an increase in the erosion of the dunes at the Penally end of the beach which would require major intervention such as rock armour to prevent. This however would be a matter for the private landowners to address,” they continued.

“Dredging sand from the Harbour and North beach is not a feasible solution to the problem as there is nowhere near enough sand ‘going spare’ or we would strip that beach as well.

“Obtaining sand from offshore would cost millions of pounds and there is no justification for Pembrokeshire County Council to spend that much public money – especially as there is no guarantee that the sand will not be lost offshore in the future.”