COUNTY Hall bosses have been hard at work tackling the erosion of a disused tip along the coast.

Since 2013 there have been various concerns regarding the erosion of a landfill site on South Walney’s coast and the impact it might have on the environment and the community.

Over the years, as the site has eroded against the tides it has released rubbish into the sea potentially harming wildlife.

However, despite the lack of funding Cumbria County Council has sought to resolve the issue.

After numerous reports of coastal erosion at the site and after different investigations it was then decided in March 2018 that structural work had to be carried out to help prevent further erosion.

As a result, contractors removed 360 tonnes of old waste and then recapped the site with approximately 390 tonnes of clay.

County Hall bosses also carried out various excavations to remove the waste from the cliffs edge, which they disposed of at an alternative landfill. Clay was then put in place and compacted to form a bund and topsoil and subsoil were then reinstated.

A spokesman from Cumbria County Council said: “The issue of historical landfill and coastal erosion is a major regional, national and international concern, and one which Cumbria County Council takes seriously.

“The council is working with partners to manage the landfill site at Walney and to identify funding and measures for the long term management and maintenance of the site.”

Sarah Dalrymple, South Walney’s wildlife warden who recently appeared on Countryfile, said: “Although erosion is a natural process this type of problem is now part of a national issue.

“There are several hundred similar sites across the UK and it was previously thought that they could act almost as a sea defence and yet as they erode rubbish is passing into the sea affecting our wildlife.

“We are now very aware of the impacts of plastics on our wildlife and we ourselves have found both seals and birds entangled in nets as well the other effects of microplastics.”

Going forward, the Waste Services team are taking responsibility for managing the waste on the shoreline by carrying out regular litter picks, whilst the county council assesses alternative proposals.

In June/ July 2018 Capita were awarded the contract to produce a report of existing information, including any physical and environmental constraints to develop a list of potential options. The project team are now reviewing the feasibility of mitigation options and funding will also need to be allocated to deliver a feasible solution to the erosion of the tip.