LYME’S beach will never get a coveted Blue Flag following the dumping of sand from the harbour.

That is the claim from Cobb Road resident Carl Salter, who has criticised the annual dredging of the harbour by West Dorset District Council.

Mr Salter said at a meeting last night: “Once again, West Dorset District Council has taken tonnes of contaminated mud and emptied it on the main beach where the children play.

“There must be a better place to dump this.

“If I did this, West Dorset District Council would go ballistic.

“How Lyme would ever get a blue flag is beyond me.”

Mayor Coun Sally Holman said the dredging is part of the district council’s harbour management.

“It will all have been agreed with all the necessary authorities,” she said.

Lyme’s district councillor Daryl Turner said: “The idea is not only to dredge the harbour but to replenish the sand beach. It is virtually as good as the stuff that is already there.”

Coun Turner said the operation has four main purposes – to dredge the harbour, clear out Victoria Pool, clear the harbour entrance, and re