Following our article on Monday about the rotting seaweed on the beach in Ryde, the council wrote to us on Wednesday afternoon to inform us that action would be taken within the next 36 hours, so hopefully it should be gone by now. Ed
Seaweed that has washed up on the beach at Ryde West is to be removed within the next 36 hours.
The seaweed, that has generated complaints over the smell it is creating, is to be cleared by the Isle of Wight Council and trucked to a farmer in the West Wight who has agreed to take the material to use as fertilizer on his land.
The farmer was one of several contacted by the council this week to see if they would be interested in taking the seaweed once removed.
Matthew Chatfield, IW Council Parks, Beaches and Countryside Manager said “Not all seaweed is suitable for use as fertilizer but the deposit currently on Ryde West beach is suitable so we are delighted to be able to make disposal arrangements at very little cost to the council.
“I would like to thank the farmer involved and also appeal to landowners who would be interested in receiving suitable seaweed in the future to get in touch.
“It must however be remembered that while we have found a solution in this case, not all seaweed is suitable to be used as fertilizer. However where we can dispose of it in this way we will most certainly do so as it is a cost effective and environmentally friendly solution.”
Image: Doug Beckers under CC BY 2.0
