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Borth a mecca for watersports?

A custom-built artificial reef could transform Borth into a money-spinning UK mecca for surfers and other water-sports enthusiasts, it was claimed this week.
It would also provide a low-cost environmentally-friendly solution to the town's sea defence problems, helping to end an embargo on new building development because of the concerns of flooding.
The reefs, pioneered by New Zealand marine engineer Kerry Black, consist of huge sausage-shaped bags of sand lowered into the sea from purpose-built ships about 250m from the shore. <snip>
They can be designed to provide surfing waves of varying shapes and sizes, while dramatically reducing the power of the sea before it reaches the shore.
<large snip on the costs...basically cheaper than big horrible concrete groynes!>
Borth Surf Club members (yes there are a couple of them!!) say the development would also be welcomed by other water-users, including swimmers, canoeists and body-boarders.
<snip>
The Environment Agency confirmed this week it was opposing all new developments in Borth until the threat of flooding to the town had been lessened. A spokewoman said: "Tidal or river flooding in Borth could be catastrophic, and the concept of increasing the number of people or properties at risk is unacceptable.

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