A Selection of Quotes From The Petition

Dave Allan
It is a disgraceful act which must be stopped. A complete disregard of our marine life and environment.

Dr M Ogden
I grew up on the beaches of Whitsand and have boasted about it to friends wherever we have lived in the UK in the past 20 years. Do I now have to start lamenting it instead as a lost treasure? I know from my academic work that short-termism is a policy mistake of huge proportions, especially in environmental matters. Think!

Emmy Halsema-Teeuwen
My family and I come to Whitsand Bay in our summer holiday from Holland for 20 years now, so stop dumping on this Bay, the most beautiful Bay we know.

Nick Evans
I really value this special place and I am appalled at what is happening. The dumping must stop!

Paul Channing
As a local diver I have witnessed first hand the effects of the dumping. Its the wrong site, far to close to shore. 

Christina Chatzikou
As a local diver I have also seen the dramatic effect the dumping has on the local marine life and the ecosystem of the area. Please stop it now

Bea Chater
In years to come people will look back and think what the hell were they doing? Have some foresight and some guts and realise that something this special needs to be preserved, not only for present and future generations but also for the countless wildlife that depend upon it.

Heidi Louise
Respect to Whitsandbay.org for walking your truth and standing up for your beliefs..it gives us hope that our united voice on the power and beauty of Mother Earth will be listened to and respected by those who are our voice...you are an example to us all!

Diane Baldry
Deliberately polluting the oceans in the 21st century is an appalling indictment on our society

Alan Eastment
Why can't the government develop a moral backbone and start listening to local people. I’ve nothing but fond memories of Whitsand Bay and I would like future generations of my family to have the same!

Thelma Rankine
The horrendous disregard for the pollution of our beautiful coastline must be addressed and halted. The horrors beneath the sea at Whitsand bay belie the beauty that we perceive from above.

Gemma
I wish No 10 and other Londoners who have never seen this area would stop making choices on our behalf.

Leon Roskilly
What a beautiful place with so much potential.
It is nothing short of a crime to destroy so much life, for so long when such places are so valuable

David Rowland
This is disgraceful; we as a family come to stay in this area every year for our annual holiday. We will have to change our choice is this is allowed to continue. Outrageous.

Mr. Kenneth Davison
In light of the recent report published by DEFRA on the marine environment and how fragile the system is, I am astounded that they issued the licence in the fist instance and even more disgusted with their action "IN DUE COURSE". There is no time for due course statements action is required immediately. The tipping of several hundred thousand tons of dredge rubbish for a project which has now been abandoned is beyond belief and is a terrible indictment on how government organisations treat the environment.

Dave Park
DEFRA have just recently highlighted the fragility of UK marine ecosystems. Surely if this waste MUST be dumped, it could be dumped seaward of the continental shelf.

Brian Smith
"Out of sight, out of mind", is not a sound environmental policy.

Dr Bruno Broughton
Vandalism & abuse of OUR common heritage is sickening - how dare they treat the population so disgracefully.

Vanessa Cottrell
Whitsand Bay is one of the world’s most beautiful areas; such short-sighted mismanagement is unforgivable. Shame on all those who allowed this to happen!

Geoff Franks
Absolutely typical. Where are the so called conservation groups, English Nature etc.when you need them. Nowhere as usual.

Gary Jones
Whitsands bay is a place enjoyed by thousands upon thousands of people every year. How long ago was it they proposed to ban all fishing in the area, this was to promote more sea life for the enjoyment of divers visiting the wreck of the Scylla. How can they try and stop a pastime such as fishing where conservation is the be all and end all of their sport when they're allowing glorified fly-tipping in such a beautiful place. STOP dumping rubbish before it’s too late!

Roz Baldry
What is possessing people to do this? The Scylla was sunk so that divers can explore this area for the marine research and the ship itself. Why damage the marine life and tourism that it brings in one go!

Oli Burns
I have been a lifeguard at the bay for the last 3 summers and have used the beach for over 20 years. whit sand comes from white sand and the sand seems to be getting darker and darker by the year. Last summer I became very ill, I think from pollution in the water whilst working. You can see the difference of water quality as soon as there is swell, the sand is churned up and all sorts of rubbish is floating in the water. Its a disgrace and I hope something is done about this soon

Annie McHale
Let’s keep our beaches preserved. I have been a resident of the local area for over 20 years and regularly visit Whitsand Bay. It is one of my favorite spots and I find it very distressing that people can neglect the natural environment in such an ignorant way. It is now being transformed from a picturesque beauty spot into an inhospitable dumping ground. Please please please, extreme action is essential at this point in order to safeguard the future of our Cornish coastline and its rich marine ecosystems

Sue Crellin
35 years diving here, sad to see how the state of this area has been affected by dumping. My photos show a lot. Stop the dumping.

Simon Everett
It was not very long ago that this Nation was celebrating making the first artificial reef in our waters - in this very same bay that is being despoiled by toxic dumping. Just how can the Government be so disorganized as to grant a license in an area that has just become a nationally recognised SSSI in the sea? It is ludicrous and shows complete and utter incompetence.

Clare Manning
If you wish to live in darkness and sorrow than biotic degradation is for you. However, if you or your descendants would like to live in an interesting world in which there is enrichness in life, variety of life and wild environments full of surprises and delights than conservation of biodiversity is for you. It starts here, on your doorstep - stop the dump!

Hilary Farley
Can this be construed as 'criminal damage under licence'?
It MUST be stopped as there is no argument that could justify destroying such a beautiful part of our environment.

Nick Shepherd
A solution needs to be found quickly. I want my children and their children to enjoy the natural pleasures of this area.

Lnydsey Jeavons
It is one of the most beautiful areas in this country and deserves our help to make sure above and below water will be there for future generations.

James Allen
I surf whitsands regularly and it is a sad fact that it may be affecting my long term health. If I as a surfer can respect the beaches and environment why cant the government!? keep us safe by doing your job, remember you represent the people not multi million pound sewage dumping business!

Derek Thomas
I'm not a fisherman but you guys are doing a good job.

John Owen
Coming so soon after the no take zone, you would have thought Defra would have been more aware of the need for local consultation, especially when it comes to dumping silt near the New Reef that got so much publicity.

Keith Arthur
Out of sight, but in this instance, thanks to a few, not out of mind.

Stuart Rodgers
I despair at the lack of concern our government has for the marine environment

Andrew McConkey
As a marine scientist, and as a former employee of the Environment Agency, I cannot believe that DEFRA have licensed this dumping without an EIA. Yet again the marine environment is not subject to the same strict stewardship and regulations that our inland waterways are. This is not the Environment Agency's fault as they are not responsible. Yet again it is the governments' fault. DEFRA who time and time again appear to aspire to destroy our environment by incompetence have struck again. The Marine Bill must happen, and a single authority must be made the competent authority with wide overarching regulatory powers. We best all hope that it's not DEFRA.

Pip Bond
I first complained to the ministry about the dumping some 15 years ago and was told that it couldn't pollute the bay and that I didn't know what I was talking about. Who are the experts? DEFRA scientists or those who have swum boated and fished the bay all our lives. Another two years and all sea life in the bay will be finished.

A M Jackson
We know that dumping waste anywhere in the ocean will cause longer term problems but it is inexcusable to dump waste close to the shore and to immediately endanger marine and other wild life.

Ben Fourniss
Stop dumping in our bay; it makes us surfers sick, literally...

Moira Knaggs
Why did we spend so much money to create a new reef for divers and then systematically destroy all hope of it becoming established?

Bruce Selkirk
Indications are that the silt is adversely affecting the biological environment by preventing photosynthesis, clogging mollusc feeding mechanisms and causing oxygen starvation. It is not sustainable and could be non-reversible.

Archie Lewis jr
With this damage to the bay,
Oh, we must find a way,
To stop this lovely water,
From becoming a filthy gutter.
Minister, we request,
That you please do your best,
To see this practice put to an end,
And then to your campaign coffers we shall send,
Many a contribution check,
For saving our bay from disastrous wreck.

M Creek
One of our most beautiful beaches, in a wonderful bay....to the moron who ticked the box on this disaster...big mistake - huge. You need to know, we will not go away. To maintain clean water, support the wildlife and treasure our heritage. It is the least we can do. Watch this space.