Beach closed to public after asbestos found in sand

A beach in Plymouth has been closed to the public after testing showed high levels of asbestos fibers in the sand.

Plymouth Council said Mount Batten beach would ‘remain closed to all users until further notice’ while investigations and tests are carried out.

The Director of Public Health, alongside the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), made the decision to close the beach to protect people from potential health risks from asbestos fibers.

The last time asbestos was found at the beach was in 2019, but levels were very low. The beach was closed for several months before it reopened to the public, with signs warning beachgoers of the low-level risk.

Since then, the council has continued to collect material from the beach every two months.

In recent samples, contractors found asbestos fibers in 14 out of 16 samples, with two types of fibers at levels deemed ‘hazardous waste’, Plymouth Live reported.

Asbestos is dangerous when inhaled, as fibers get trapped in the body, which can then scar lung tissue and cause cancer. Symptoms might take between 10 and 60 years to develop.

Professor Steve Maddern, Plymouth Director of Public Health, said: “Closing a beach that is well used by local residents is the last thing we want to do and we understand the disappointment this will cause but the latest sand samples are concerning and we must prioritise the safety of the public.

‘We need to carry out further tests, including assessing the risk of airborne fibers and conducting a further survey to try and trace exactly where the materials are coming from.

‘I would urge everyone, for their own safety, to take notice of the signage around the beach and not to enter areas that have been closed. Once we have carried out further tests we will know what needs to be done to reduce the risks on the beach.

‘We would ask everyone to bear with us and be patient while this work takes place and to enjoy the other beautiful areas of the Mount Batten peninsula, including the Mount Batten Watersports and Activities center, in the meantime.’

Café owners are fearful the closure will impact summer trade. One business owner, June Liew, owns a café near the beach, and told Plymouth Live that trade has been ‘dead’ since the beach closed this morning. 

She told PlymouthLive: ‘In 2019 it was closed for months. It was terrible, we had no summer trade at all.

‘Now I’m very worried. It’s been dead this morning. The car park is empty and people are walking up and reading the signs.’

Plymouth Council has said it will ensure local businesses and residents are kept updated on the closure.

Metro has contacted the council for further comment.