ROTTING seaweed on Falmouth’s Gyllyngvase and Castle beaches is threatening the town’s economy and putting jobs at risk.

That is the warning from business leader Nigel Carpenter, who says Cornwall Council cuts to the cleaning of the beaches are leaving tourists and locals hunting to find patches of clean sand to sit on. Concerns have also been raised over the expansion of commercial activities on the beach.

The problem has been affecting the beaches since a change to the cleaning contract in April. Previously, they were raked by a tractor three times a week, and seaweed regularly cleaned away.

Mr Carpenter, chairman of Falmouth BID, said: “Our beaches are extremely important to the local economy and thousands of local families depend on visitors coming to spend money. Our tourism business is under threat unless rapid action is taken to clean up the beaches and carefully manage/licence commercial activities in a considered way.”

Local resident Siobhan Garland contacted the Packet to say: “I was at Gyllyngvase Beach on Monday, and there were people there asking ‘why are we here?’ “There was seaweed everywhere. It is horrible, and it harbours flies which makes it really unpleasant. It is disgusting.”

Members of the Falmouth and District Hotels Association have been organising volunteers to manually clear Castle Beach, as this area was never easy to clear with a tractor, but is now also being left uncleared.

They have so far removed two tons of rotting, dead seaweed. Rosemary Riddette Gregory, secretary of Falmouth and District Hotels Association said: “The Falmouth rate-paying public need to be made aware that our one of the town’s greatest assets is being allowed to deteriorate, and also become over-run with commercial activity.”

Falmouth BID is firmly behind the need for change. BID manager Richard Wilcox added: “The BID is fully behind securing change at the beach – a far more effective and strategic beach management plan is needed.”

Jayne Gray, owner of Castle Beach Café, said: “Due to the terrible weather this season we have had to close the cafe on several occasions, and it is really disappointing that, on the days when it is sunny, visitors have nowhere to sit because the seaweed has taken over the beach. “Not only is this my livelihood, but it is Falmouth’s reputation that is at stake.”

A spokesman for Cornwall Council said: “The council has been monitoring the seaweed at Gyllyngvase which has been building this week. “While the council no longer rakes beaches we have set out a framework to ensure that they remain clean and well presented, but recognises the need to develop a balanced approach in line with local expectations and national standards.

“The Blue Flag scheme acknowledges seaweed as natural component of beaches and stipulates it should only be removed where it becomes a hazard and preferably in sustainable manner. This is reflected in the council’s current procedures.”

They added: "As the tide has reached its peak for this particular period, the current deposition of seaweed will not be carried away on the tide and therefore we have taken the decision to remove the seaweed before it becomes a hazard."

The seaweed was removed from the beach on Thursday morning.