Madam,

I wish to reply to the letters regarding the metal tree sculpture proposed for Borth beach.

It should be pointed out that most Borth residents are not against the metal tree in principle, only the location in an environmentally sensitive area, at the same time creating a hazard.

The structure is unlikely to be temporary. The initial planning application for 10 years could be extended. While the 10-metre-high Tree could easily be removed it is only the tip of the metal/concrete iceberg. The massive foundations are likely to prove to be too difficult to eradicate. The environmental damage will never be reversed.

Contrary to claims in the letters a clear majority oppose it. Conveniently it’s not mentioned that at short notice 1,000 people signed an online petition. Both Borth Community Council and the county council voted against the scheme. Various estimates put the opposition in Borth at between 70 per cent and 90 per cent. Not a small minority. As people learn of the serious impact those opposing are growing in number.

Those in favour of Tree do not like opposition. When local RNLI members took the exceptional step of going public with deeply-held safety concerns, a complaint was made to the national RNLI to silence them.

When Borth Community Council voted by a clear majority to oppose Tree an unfounded complaint was made to the Ombudsman. This was thrown out at the first stage.

Natural Resources Wales initially had “significant concerns” about the impact on the ringed plover birds. These are on the Birds of Conservation Concern Red List. Strangely, following a meeting between the NRW, the artist and a powerful local politician, NRW backtracked and now consider it acceptable for major engineering works to happen adjacent to the ringed plover site. What will happen to them during the nesting season with the vast increase of public there?

The battle against Tree has only just started.

Yours etc,

J W Davies, Borth.

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