Our seaside paradise is being trashed by tourists…it’s turning into Benidorm & we’ve been forced to take action
LOCALS living in a seaside paradise say it’s being trashed by tourists – so they’re now being forced to take matters into their own hands.
Those who call Cornwall‘s Polzeath home have even compared their picturesque beach to Benidorm as it becomes overrun by visitors.
The residents say their coastal spot swells with tourists in the summer months.
But their issue isn’t the mass groups, it’s those who leave rubbish scattered across their beach and streets.
They have now blasted schoolchildren and revellers for littering and vandalising their picturesque home – and taken it upon themselves to stamp out the behaviour.
Locals like Andy Stewart and Bev Samuels have stepped up as beach rangers who keep a close eye on goings on.
Andy said he just wants his home to keep it’s reputation as a holiday spot – rather than a place ruined by visiting youngsters.
He previously told CornwallLive: “We want people to have an amazing time.
“Polzeath is a very popular Blue Flag beach and surf resort that attracts all different age groups. But it’s becoming known as a party town like Newquay was in the 90s when it became full of stag and hen dos.
“It took 10 years for Newquay to turn itself around and be known as a family-friendly place again. We don’t want Polzeath to go into decline because once it’s gone we’ll struggle to get our reputation back.”
Andy said this summer the street lights would be switched on at 1am and bin bags handed out to any remaining beach dwellers to clear up the mess.
The former police officer, who now patrols the beaches, mostly blaimed school children.
He claimed posh parents living in nearby villages “haven’t got a clue” what their kids are getting up to.
He said: “They think they are sending their kids to this utopia, where they are sitting on the beach, playing guitar and swapping phone numbers.
“They don’t realise there is excessive drinking, cocaine, nitrous oxide, underage sex and big fires.”
Andy added: “Polzeath is 99.5% awesome. We just don’t want the 0.5% to spoil it all for everyone else.”
But Kathy Alford and Vickie Toland, who volunteer for the local conservation group, still fear for the next couple of weeks, as the summer season attracts crowds of young tourists.
Vickie said: “In the last few years, it’s been big bonfires and lots of bottles just chucked.
“I couldn’t believe it when I first saw the bin man with a wheelbarrow and a dustpan and brush clearing up the road in the morning.”