Christchurch beach seaweed 'crawling with maggots'

Clusters of tiny maggots have been spotted on the marine algae along Avon Beach in recent days.

BCP Council have now said they “will continue to monitor" the seaweed at Avon Beach to ensure there are "no safety concerns".

Mudeford, Stanpit and West Highcliffe ward councillor Lesley Dedman said: "I am totally in sympathy with residents and visitors who find it unpleasant.

"But I am so sorry that now Christchurch have been merged, unwillingly, into Bournemouth and Poole, the present Conservative administration is refusing to clear the seaweed, as had previously been done.

"In the past, Christchurch Council cleared it and farmers took it off and used it as natural fertiliser. But even if that is now barred for some health and safety rule, the council should clear it.

"I have made numerous attempts to get this done by the Conservative BCP administration, and last season was a particularly bad one for weed, causing a bad smell.

"All I am told is by officers and cabinet members is ‘the sea will wash it out on the tide, or ‘it is only to be expected at the seaside’ and to cap it all, last year when I insisted on a site visit, ‘well if it gets over four feet, we may clear it’. It is almost insulting to be treated like this."

A BCP Council Spokesperson said: “Our seafront teams have inspected the site today at Avon Beach in Christchurch as we received a report of maggots in seaweed. A small amount of seaweed has been found at high tide level.

"We share our space with an active and living marine environment, where extreme tidal systems can at times bring in an excess amount of seaweed onto our beaches, including Avon Beach, where it forms part an important ecosystem.

"We will continue to monitor the seaweed at Avon Beach and remain in regular contact with all our partners to ensure there are no safety concerns on any of our beaches.”