It is the only Welsh beach to appear in the top 10, with 3.21 per cent of TripAdvisor reviews mentioning litter.
This beach at Barry Island is one of the busiest in the Vale, especially during summer months and bank holidays The moment the sun comes out, the beach is packed with people from Barry and across the country, choosing to make a day of the nice weather with a trip to the seaside.
It’s a popular spot for families and day-trippers but reviewers have noted the amount of litter left behind, despite the fact a tannoy calls out regularly to remind visitors to take their litter with them once they leave the beach.
But what do the people who live and work in the area think about this less than savoury title?
Zio’s Gelateria called the May half term and bank holiday “one of the busiest weeks” of the year so far.
They believe that the issue of litter is “not a council thing, it’s a people thing.” They praised the work of the cleaning team who ensure that the Island and Whitmore Bay are spotless each morning.
The only suggestion they can offer to the already hardworking team is a slight change to their rota. They suggested the implementation of a “late shift” for litter pickers, to tackle the crowds that make the journey during the evening after a day in work.
Staff at O’Shea’s say that its “always worse at half term.” They believe that “as soon as people start coming down here that aren’t from Barry is when it’s starts.”
They say that lack of bins and provisions are not the issue, as more have recently been added to the seafront – they’ve called it the result of “pure laziness.”
Staff at Bar Enzo have said that the mess left after a sunny day is “down to the public.” They also praised the council’s cleaning team, saying that they are always on the Island “first thing in the morning, cleaning everything.” They told the Barry and District News that workers had relayed more than 4.5 tonnes of litter had been collected after the most recent bank holiday Monday, saying that “they’re on top of it.”
A spokesperson for the Vale of Glamorgan Council said: “Our Council teams work hard to ensure litter is collected and the Vale is an attractive place for residents and visitors alike.
“During the recent warm weather, Barry Island experienced a huge surge in visitor numbers.
“That resulted in more than twice the volume of litter being produced over the bank holiday weekend, compared to a normal Friday to Monday period.
“Cleansing teams and resort staff were out at dawn collecting waste to make sure the resort was looking it’s best ready for the next day’s visitors.
“There are also 50 litter bins and multiple large 1100 litre receptacles around Whitmore Bay to provide extra waste provision.
“Despite this, some people still persist in leaving their litter on the beach and other areas of Barry Island.
“Everyone is welcome at our resorts, but we want people to act responsibly and please take their waste with them.”
