A huge 'smelly seaweed barrier’ is putting tourists off visiting a popular Dorset beach.
The large mass washed up on Weymouth Beach last month, and as the temperatures have climbed the seaweed has dried out and started to pong.
Tourists visiting the beach have been left less than impressed, with one taking to Tripadvisor to claim his fond memories of the place had been ‘shattered’.
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“The vast quantities of wet and drying piles of seaweed had to be walked over if you want to get to the sea,” he wrote.
“Saw children crying as they didn’t like walking on it and the days of seeing clear blue clean water where, if you were lucky you could see shoals of baby fish, have gone.”
Someone else said it was ‘smelly and slimy’, while a third said the seaweed had left the water discoloured.
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Another visitor to the beach wrote: “Large quantities of seaweed have been washed ashore and, as opposed to previous years, this has been left to rot, resulting in a smelly and fly-infested carpet.”
Some have called on Weymouth Town Council to remove the mass, but the council says it’s important to avoid ‘any potential harm that may arise from interfering with its natural course’.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “We appreciate that the seaweed might be unsightly until it is washed back out into the bay but as caretakers of this beautiful and diverse coastal environment, we have made a conscious decision not to routinely remove any animals or plants.
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“This decision supports our commitment to preserving the ecosystem’s integrity and avoiding any potential harm that may arise from interfering with its natural course.
“Seaweed is an important resource for marine invertebrates and a food source for many species.
“While we understand that our approach may not align with some personal preferences, it is important to note that we are not striving to provide a synthetic, controlled swimming pool experience.
"Instead, we invite visitors to embrace the raw beauty of nature in its unaltered form, which includes the presence of seaweed, along with other fascinating marine life such as crabs, seals, jellyfish, and dolphins.
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“Weymouth Beach has been honoured with both the Seaside Award and the Blue Flag Award. These accolades underscore our dedication to maintaining cleanliness, safety, high-quality services, water quality, and environmental management. We take great pride in upholding these standards and continuously strive to provide an exceptional beach experience for our valued visitors.”
Topics: UK News
Claire Reid