There’s an accident waiting to happen at Sandy Water Park woods (aka Coed Cefn Padrig) in Llanelli.
Evening and night-time visitors to the woodland have been setting fires for BBQs and drinking sessions.
On Sunday, I counted six sites where fires had been lit. One was still smouldering at 11am.
At every site, you’ll find discarded litter, bottles and cans.
The woodland walk has (over the years) been vandalised. Trail markers and sculptures have been ruined.
The woods have become something of a ‘no-go’ area at evening time as the outdoor drinkers take over.
It’s easy to say it’s a youth problem.
The reality is a little different.
Yes, there are some youths setting fires, but there are also adults setting makeshift BBQs and fire pits in the woodland.
Plainly, there is a fire risk as the weather gets warmer and the woodland dries out.
The woodland is gradually being dismantled as the vandals snap branches from trees and cut down smaller saplings for fire fuel.
What’s to be done?
Well, plainly it’s a difficult area for the police to patrol.
Perhaps, we need some Millennium Coastal Park wardens?
But, one suspects, they would find it difficult to enforce any fire ban in the woodland.
Update to story (May 31) –
Well done to the Wales Wildlife Watch team for Sandy Water Park work
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