We the undersigned wish to register, in the strongest possible terms, our dissatisfaction with the delay in restoring the public right of way across the breach in the sea wall at Cwm Ivy marsh. Allowing the situation to reach a point where restoration is impossible, by delaying work to stabilise and bridge the breach in the sea wall is totally unacceptable. We expect remedial work to start without delay and will press for this via our elected representatives and the media.

Objectives and Priorities

The seawall on Cwm Ivy marsh was breached and the marsh behind the wall inundated with salt water after a storm in Feb 2014. The National Trust who owns the marsh already had a long term plan to let it become a new salt marsh and took no action.

Objectives

Those of us campaigning to “Save Our Seawall Footpath” accept that for good or bad the marsh cannot be returned to its previous state and will remain a salt marsh flooded by the sea at high tide.

However the further destruction of the ancient sea wall and disruption to the coastal path that it carries, is unacceptable and must be addressed.

The “Save Our Seawall Footpath” campaign aims to ensure that the agencies responsible i.e. The National Trust, Natural Resources Wales and Swansea City Council, stabilise the breach and provide a long-term solution for walkers to cross the breach when following the Wales Coastal Path.

Priorities

The overwhelming priority is to ensure that no more damage to the seawall occurs. This requires a wall or other retaining structure to be installed at the ends of the seawall, either side of the breach. This must be done as soon as possible and certainly before the winter storms and high tides. Without this, irreversible damage will be done to the seawall.

When this has been done a temporary method of crossing the gap needs to be provided. This could take the from of a temporary bridge or even stepping stones usable at times other than a high tide.

In the longer term a substantial and long lasting bridge needs to be constructed to allow this magnificent walk to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Observations

The campaign realises that funding is a difficult issue. However, if the structure of the sea wall is stabilised, a delay in restoring the path, although regrettable, could be accepted. This would allow time for funding from the agencies involved to be organized and, if necessary, public fund raising activities to be carried out.