Our council digs up Britain’s best beach and sells the golden sand… it’s outrageous – the dunes belong to the US

Residents living near one of Britain’s most picturesque beaches have expressed their anger at the actions of the local authority, who they say are exploiting the pristine white sands for profit.

Residents and holidaymakers in Hayle, Cornwall, are unhappy with the actions of the local authority, with some even calling their behaviour ‘disgusting’.

Sophie Daniels, who lives nearby, started the petition because she believes the sand is being ‘mined for profit’ and ‘sold without any thought being given to the environmental impact’.

However, authorities say the sand sold to local businesses is dredged as part of a legal obligation to “maintain a safe route for fishing and sailing boats”.

Mrs Daniels said: ‘In recent times our once peaceful beach has suffered from the tonnes of sand that has disappeared. [being] removed day and night and sold for profit, with no regard for the environmental impact.

Residents and holidaymakers in Hayle, Cornwall, say tonnes of sand have been removed from the beach ‘day and night’

When MailOnline visited this week, we saw giant excavators scooping up tonnes of sand from the coast before loading it onto large earthmoving machines

A petition demanding an immediate halt to mining operations at Hayle Beach, named the best in the UK by the Sunday Times, has already gathered almost 2,000 signatures

‘The authorities justify the mining, claiming that it is necessary to keep the canal free for fishermen.

‘But the reality is clearly different. They are digging on the beach, far from the central canal that they want to keep free.’

‘The beach is suffering because tons of sand are being removed day and night and sold for profit, with no thought given to the environmental impact.

Deborah Phillips, 58, a care assistant from nearby Helston, said: ‘It’s pretty scandalous but I’m sure it’s all about money.

“I don’t think they’ll listen to the petition. This is greed over people again, but the people behind it don’t care, they don’t care about the families who have been coming here all their lives.

What unintended consequences will this have for the environment in the years to come?

The petition calling for an immediate halt to mining activities at Hayle Beach has already collected almost 2,000 signatures.

When MailOnline visited this week, we witnessed giant excavators scooping up tonnes of sand from the coast and then loading it into large diggers.

Local residents Margaret Abbotts (left) and Deborah Phillips (right) said: ‘The beach is for everyone and should not be sold’ and ‘it’s all about money’

Holidaymaker Terry Soar from Nottingham said: ‘I think it’s disgusting’

According to authorities, the sand is sold to local businesses but is only dredged as part of a legal obligation to ‘maintain a safe navigation channel for fishing and sailing boats’

Angry local residents who signed the petition complained about the night-time digging work causing disruption and accused authorities of causing “environmental damage” and “stealing” sand from the beach.

‘Our request is simple: stop sand extraction immediately.’

Angry residents who signed the petition complained about the disruption caused by the night-time excavation work, accusing the authorities of causing “environmental damage” and “stealing” sand from the beach instead of dredging the channel.

The beautiful coastal village of Hayle is located just five miles from St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall and has over three miles of unspoilt coastline.

Today it is a popular tourist destination. In the early 19th century it was the most important mining port and home to the largest steam engine manufacturers in the world.

Nottingham holidaymakers Terry and Lynn Soar have been regular guests for over ten years.

Mr Soar said: ‘I think it’s disgusting that they are taking the sand and selling it.

‘Hayle Beach is the city’s special beach. It has beautiful golden sand and is completely unspoilt.

‘I think it’s a really stupid move because holidaymakers are a really important part of Cornwall’s economy and many of those people come for the beautiful beaches.

“If you lose them, people won’t come anymore.”

The beautiful coastal town of Hayle is located just five miles from St Ives on the north coast of Cornwall and boasts over three miles of unspoilt coastline

Today it is a popular tourist destination. It was the most important mining port and home to the world’s largest steam engine manufacturers in the early 19th century.

Ms Soar added: ‘I can’t imagine the damage it’s doing to marine life that may not come back.’

Margaret Abbotts, 59, a lifelong resident of Hayle, said: ‘Dredging the canal is something they have to do to keep it clean and some people in this town are concerned about that.

‘It is a shame that dredging is necessary, but if it protects the livelihoods of the fishermen who use the canal, then I think it is necessary.

“But I am not happy if the beach is dug up and sold. I grew up there over the years and everyone can see the changes over the years.

‘The beach is for everyone and should not be sold.’

Hayle Harbour Master Peter Haddock told Cornwall Live: ‘Regular dredging is required at four sites in Hayle Harbour to create a safe route for fishing and sailing boats.

‘Dredging also maximises the tidal flow, so that the channel is naturally flushed. This preserves the estuary ecosystem and contributes to flood risk management.

‘Hayle Harbour Authority is responsible for regular dredging under the Hayle Harbour Act 1989.

‘The dredged sand will be sold to a local company, Padstow Sea Sand and Aggregate Ltd.’

Hayle Harbour Master Peter Haddock told Cornwall Live: ‘Regular dredging is required at four locations in Hayle Harbour to create a safe channel for fishing and sailing boats to navigate.

A Hayle Town Council spokesman said a full council meeting was held on September 5.

Cornwall Live reported during the meeting that ‘updates have been received from the harbour master on behalf of Hayle Harbour Authority and representatives of North Quay Development, who own and have responsibility for that area’.

It was confirmed that dredging is permitted in accordance with the Hayle Harbour Act 1989 and that the amount of sand ‘removed from the channel is recorded and closely monitored’.

In a Facebook post, the spokesperson said: ‘Councillors recognise the need for a safe, navigable route to the harbour but also have serious concerns about the potential long-term damage to the local environment and ecology. They believe that re-establishing a routine lock system would be more beneficial and acceptable to the community of Hayle.

Hayle Borough Council decided to write to various stakeholders including Natural England, RSPB, Environment Agency, Cornwall Council and local MP, Perran Moon, to inform them of the potential damage from the dredging, to seek their views, to share any information they may have such as environmental reports, monitoring assessments and geomorphological reports and to work with us to find a positive solution that is beneficial to all parties and St Ives Bay.

‘It was further decided to write a letter to the owners and the harbour master requesting them to switch from a dredging and removal policy to a dredging and dune replenishment policy, and to look at ways to repair and/or automate the locks and equipment so that lock operation is possible again.’