A PETITION calling for Welsh Government to fund both the removal of quarry rocks and the restoration of sand and groynes to Llandudno’s North Shore beach has now hit its target of 10,000 signatures.

In order for the online petition to be considered for debate in the Welsh Parliament, 10,000 signatures are needed.

You can sign the petition here: petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245414.

Janet Finch-Saunders, Aberconwy MS, has been working with Cllr Ian Turner and residents to help restore sand to the beach. 

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Petition to restore sand to Llandudno beach surpasses 6,000 signatures

She said: “The people of Aberconwy, Wales, and the United Kingdom have sent the Welsh Government a clear message: sand and groynes should be restored on North Shore Beach, Llandudno.

“Whilst 5,000 have backed the campaign in Aberconwy, it speaks volumes that residents in all corners of not only Wales, but the United Kingdom have signed up too.

"In fact, over 2,600 in England have backed the campaign, too!

“With thousands campaigning to save our special beach, a short section of the 1,680 miles of coastline in Wales, there can be no doubt that it is a location of major importance.

"The Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour Conwy County Borough Council should never have dumped quarry rocks on our shore, but now the Plaid Cymru and Welsh Labour co-operation Welsh Government have an opportunity to make right a major wrong.

“I am grateful to everyone who has helped in achieving the huge target.

"A very special thanks must go to Cllr Ian Turner. Every day he has been working on the petition, and ensured that we achieved the required number seven weeks before the deadline."

The Petitions Committee in the Welsh Parliament must now consider whether to allow the petition to be debated in the Welsh Parliament.

Cllr Turner added: "The message to the powers that be is loud and clear.

"It's time to do the right thing to maximise tourist footfall in order to support all businesses who together employ over 5,000 people in our main industry, tourism. 

"Removing quarry rocks and reinstating sand and groynes would help enormously to attract more people to stay in the town, while at the same time ensuring we still retain a robust sea defence, in so doing maximising the area's potential for financial sustainability both now and for future generations."

A spokesperson for Llandudno Coastal Forum added: "In 2021, Welsh Government advised Conwy Council that the sand pption was not financially viable for North Shore and recommended the council to adopt the stone option based on its more favourable benefit cost ratio..

"This decision opposed the original recommendation of the Llandudno Coastal Forum which unanimously voted in favour of sand option.

"The forum has now formally challenged Welsh Government’s advice as it was largely focused on the capital costs and did not fully consider the longer-term economic impact on local residents and the wider tourism economy.

"The forum requested that CCBC considers the financial impact beyond the capital costs.

"Following support from council leader Charlie McCoubrey, CCBC are now seeking funding to carry out a full economic assessment.

"The Coastal Forum has requested involvement in the scope of this study and continued oversight to ensure that council and government identify the wider benefits of a sand option."

Last August, Welsh Government rejected Conwy County Borough Council (CCBC)’s proposal for funding to see sand returned to Llandudno’s North Shore beach.

According to a report published by CCBC, the Welsh Government’s Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management branch (FCERM), stated that the return of sand to North Shore “does not appear to provide any additional flood risk management benefits”.

CCBC’s cabinet has agreed to support a non-sand flood defence option for North Shore.

Following public concerns of deposition of cobble on North Shore in 2014, CCBC's cabinet resolved to establish the forum to find a sustainable policy for beach management of North Shore.