Madam,

Like many residents of Borth, I am concerned about the proposed bronze tree sculpture currently under discussion.

Our beach falls within the boundary of the Dyfi Biosphere Reserve - a status that is supposed to encourage a balanced relationship between people and nature.

I cannot see how the placing of a massive metal structure within the natural environment of the sunken forest and inter-tidal zone of Borth beach can do anything but contravene that stated aim.

It also seems clear that a 30-foot-high piece of metal, dug into the sand and peat layers of Borth beach, is in direct opposition to the purpose of a Special Landscape Area which the proposed location of the sculpture falls within.

Special Landscape Area is a designation that is used to categorise sensitive landscapes and help protect them from development or other man-made influences.

Borth Community Council voted to reject the proposed sculpture. Despite being the representatives of the village, they could be overruled by the county council. It seems to me that this situation is symptomatic of a wider problem within our so-called democracy.

Local people and communities are frustrated at their apparent lack of autonomy when faced with a development that will apparently ‘boost the economy’ - in this case, an economy that seems largely built on turning Wales into some sort of theme park.

I was born and brought up in this area and feel strongly about the need to both protect what we have and also to develop the confidence to reject what we don’t want. The constant appropriation of Welsh ‘legends’ for financial gain is demeaning. We are better than that.

This proposed sculpture would change the visual and physical environment of an area that until now has been one of the few places we have which is free to exist mainly without human intervention, since the building of the groynes many years ago. A walk along the beach between Borth and Ynyslas would be significantly altered, the skyline cut into, and a place where human impact is light would suddenly find itself intruded upon. Some places should be left alone.

It seems clear to me that the story of the ancient forest doesn’t need the literalness of a man-made tree to bring it to life. It’s an insult to our imagination, and there are many ways to tell this story in a public space without sticking a huge metal structure into the beach. A number of alternatives have been suggested and so far rejected.

Common sense needs to prevail. This project is ill-fated and ill-advised and unwelcomed by too many for a whole host of reasons that include safety, legality, culture, ecology and aesthetics for it to be approved in good conscience.

Yours etc,

Will Bamford, Brynowen Lane, Borth.

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