Editor's Blog Jun 06th 2012
Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water
The quality of our beaches, at least on the eastern side, has been a cause for concern for me since last weekend, when I took a walk on Catalan bay and came away with my feet covered in what seemed a greyish fine powder.
I have been told that the same powder can be found on Eastern Beach and would have been found as far as Sandy Bay had there been a beach there.
For all the works that are being carried out in the area, the one that raises most eyebrows is the East Side Project, which is once again under full swing with the large sea defences going up every day.
It is true that the area must be developed, but at what cost to nature? Well bearing in mind that the little stretch of coast from Eastern Beach to Catalan Bay back in the day was really nothing of note there, just water. I cannot find myself agreeing with some of the more militant ecologists, who were stating that the project is ruining our coastline.
No, what is running our coastline will be the hundreds of houses with a gated community, that will impede Joe Average from enjoying the coast as much as his richer cousin.
Also in the news last week, the waters off La Atunara have been listed as black flagged, meaning that its been classified as waters that have more than above average pollution, mainly from raw sewage. Forget that our neighbours are trying to pin the blame on us and are threating proceedings so that we pay for the clean up.
Now, I am no scientist but water circulates and is dependant on the currents, which carry this pollution far and wide. With La Atunara a scant 3 miles away what’s there saying that this pollution is not reaching our beaches?
As with western beach, which has been deemed to be unhealthy to be swimming in, has there been any testing of the waters around the eastern side and if so what are the findings?
Last year there where many reports of people picking up skin conditions after using our beaches, ailments from mild rashes to severe reactions, how much is due to what is in the sand or what is in the water?
Ed.
