In last week’s Standard you reported on the overflowing bins on Bradwell Beach by visitors over the hot weekend.

I was disappointed, but not surprised, to read that Maldon Council failed to take any responsibility for the clean-up.

In my view the council has failed in their civic duty, though, as they were quick to point out not their legal duty.

Though I am pleased to report that when I walked past early Saturday morning the rubbish had been cleared.

The popularity of Bradwell beach raises a wider point with regard to the Bradwell B proposal.

In the last few weeks I have noticed more walkers and tourists in Bradwell than ever before.

We have had visitors parking outside our house and we live about half a mile from the village and coast, so would not be first choice parking.

Rather than being dismissive about the visitors I feel lucky to live in a place that people want to come and visit and explore, and as a resident have the opportunity to explore in the mornings and evenings before the tourists arrive and after they leave.

This local and regional tourist amenity would be lost should the plans for Bradwell B come to fruition – as a society we need natural landscapes and places to escape.

Previous letters have written about the loss of species that would occur should the plans be built; however there is also a loss that will occur to our own species should this plan occur.

We need to have places that provide rural landscapes for residents and visitors to the district to explore and cherish.

Graeme Eyre

Maldon Road, Bradwell-on-Sea