29 June 2023 , 08:35
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A once beautiful West Country beach that was bustling with holidaymakers has been marred by an unwelcome invader.
The coast of Weymouth, Dorset, once celebrated for its "breathtaking scenery", is a shell of its former self according to some visitors and locals, with reeking seaweed plaguing the seafront.
While many argue there is still plenty to do at Weymouth Beach, the endless rotting seaweed is causing havoc for locals and businesses as tourists vow to never return - seeing their heartfelt memories "shattered" of their "favourite seaside town".
The mass of algae has washed up on the sand and with scorching temperatures hitting the nation, the seaweed has dried and rotted on the shore, creating a "fly-infested carpet".
Tourists are vowing to never return to the seaweed-infested town (Dorset Live/BPM Media)Engulfed by unpleasant smells and piles of brown seaweed, fond memories of children building sandcastles and running into the sea have been swapped for little ones crying while wading through the algae.
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Having visited Weymouth Beach "frequently" throughout the years, tourist Chris and his family were utterly disappointed by just one gaze at the shoreline.
Taking to TripAdvisor, he said: "Our memories were shattered with just one look at the beach and the state the council have decided to leave it in - the vast quantities of wet and drying piles of seaweed.
"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. We shall not be in a hurry to return."
Despite the stigma it's creating for the town, the council are refusing to remove the "unsightly" seaweed.
Aware of the issue, Weymouth Town Council has made a "conscious decision not to routinely remove any animals or plants" and will allow the kelp to be washed away.
The council are refusing to remove the seaweed as it's an 'important resource' for marine life (Dorset Live/BPM Media)Do you love visiting Weymouth? What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments.
A spokeswoman for Weymouth Town Council said: "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."
Lyn describes the scenery as 'breathtaking' (Lyn Saddington)
But she's witnessed several changes throughout the years (Lyn Saddington)Lyn Saddington, who has been visiting Weymouth for over 25 years, admitted that the issue is destroying her dream of relocating to the seaside town.
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Lyn, from Brighton, has said she's "hoping to move" to Weymouth by the end of the year but has been left "sceptical" by the town's ongoing issues.
The 48-year-old told the Mirror: "Sadly the seaweed issue is keeping people away and needs addressing. You can end up covered in it going into the sea!
"Weymouth relies on tourism and things like the seaweed can have a real negative effect on visitors than affecting the revenue it collects."
Stagnant seaweed isn't the only issue plaguing the town. Throughout her 25 years of visiting, Lyn has witnessed "a lot of changes".
She says: "There seem to be a lot more homeless and people with drink/drug problems about in town but that's a national problem.
"A lot of shops are shutting and empty which is sad and bigger stores opening on estates leaving the town empty. As with everywhere, I think the drug problem and homeless problem needs addressing."
A frequent visitor is hoping to relocate to the seaside town after visiting for 25 years (Daniel Sands / SWNS)Beneath the layers of seaweed, the town is appreciated for its "breathtaking scenery" and "friendly" locals.
In addition to the welcoming exterior, Weymouth prides itself on its affordable housing market - but, unfortunately, this may not be the case for long.
Lyn explains: "I am planning to relocate as there's so much for my children to do there, even in winter. There's also lots of choice of shops to look at which seem to stock everything. I've looked into schools which are great and affordable houses.
"I've been told by estate agents that prices are increasing around Weymouth as people that would have bought a second home in Devon or Cornwall but can't because of the local connection bylaw on some houses there and they are now targeting Dorset.
"In a few years, they could end up with a major housing crisis because of it," she added.
Tourists play a huge part in Weymouth's economy as the town relies heavily on tourism (Getty Images)Despite the backlash, Weymouth Beach has plenty of glowing reviews on TripAdvisor with a total of 4.5/5 stars on the site and a whopping 4.7/5 on Google.
Offering a more positive perspective on the seaside town, visitor Julie wrote: "Absolutely beautiful beach, lots to do, Punch and Judy show, pedalos, kayaks, lovely clean shallow water, kids were in it every day, there's a harbour, a funfair, but everybody was in the water."
Despite the poignant seaweed issue, another beach-goer named Minal said: "A gorgeous sandy beach. My young kids were thrilled to play in the soft sand.
"We were lucky to have visited on a sunny day, my daughter enjoyed searching for shells. Parking is available but was tricky to find," she added.
Minal wasn't the only person to find the parking a stinging issue. Another visitor admitted they were taken aback by the rocketing cost of parking charges, which shot up as high as £15.
While Gillian claims to have "always loved" Weymouth, she admits that she won't be returning to the town.
She says: "The parking prices have increased dramatically anything over four hours now is £15 for both long stay and short stay car parks, feel ripped off as a consequence didn't spend in town on coffee, etc."
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