WALNEY’s wildlife warden will be speaking on national TV tomorrow about her concerns towards the erosion of a disused tip along the coast.

Sarah Dalrymple, South Walney’s wildlife warden, will be on BBC 1 for this week's Countryfile programme talking about what impact the eroding landfill site is having on South Walney’s wildlife.

The tip was running until at least the 1980s when it was operated by Cumbria County Council.

Ms Dalrymple said: “The whole of Walney’s shoreline is being impacted by sea erosion, but this is also exposing rubbish from the ground where the disused tip is on South Walney.

“After the landfill stopped to be used they buried and capped it with soil, but as the sea hits against the cliff more and more rubbish is falling into the sea.

“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.

“It also concerning that this particular site was in operation during the 1970’s where restrictions on what could be put into landfill weren’t as strict as they now are. Therefore, it is possible that very harmful chemicals could be released into our seas. More needs to done to stop this from happening.”

Simon Mulgrew, who owns the land where the disused tip is on, has said: “We are concerned that the erosion of the tip will impact on bathing quality as well the other impacts it will have on wildlife surrounding Walney.

“Previous attempts have been made to repair the cliff by tipping rock armour along it, but we would like to see more of a long term solution to the problem.”

When The Mail last reported on the issue Cumbria County Council said that it was aware of the erosion at the South Walney Closed Landfill site, and that the situation is being monitored closely by their contractors. It is also carrying out regular litter pickings of the beach area to reduce risk of pollution and contamination.