Herd of goats brought in to clear sea view at British resort fail as holidaymakers left outraged

Holidaymakers have been left outraged as views of the beach have been blocked by vegetation.

Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council brought in goats to clear the sea view back in 2019 after they declared a climate and ecological emergency.

The "conservation grazing" scheme replaced petrol-powered strimming but has been criticised for delivering little in the way of results.

Views over Poole Bay from Bournemouth East’s Cliff remain blocked by overgrown foliage.

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Jo Keeling, who is part of the campaign group BCP Community Action, said the out-of-control vegetation risks damaging the tourist industry, which Bournemouth relies heavily on.

The town attracts between 7 million and 11 million visitors per year, which generates over £1.3billion annually for the wider regional visitor economy.

This equates to roughly 15 per cent of its total economy.

Ms Keeling said: "Everywhere seems to be so overgrown."

She told the Telegraph: "We are a tourist town and rely on tourists, and first impressions matter.

“But when you have a prime area of the seafront looking unkempt and untidy, it is going to put people off.

"We are gifted with a beautiful coastline, and yet part of it looks like this.

"I just don’t get the lack of foresight into how this is putting people off coming here."

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Simon Wilson, from Birmingham, who visited the summer holiday spot, added: "It seems so obvious. The reason people come to Bournemouth is the beach. Why would you not want to show it off from every vantage point?"

Andy Hadley, the BCP council cabinet member for climate response, environment and energy, said: "Vegetation on Bournemouth’s cliffs is carefully managed to maximise benefits for local wildlife while preserving access and key viewpoints where possible.

"To minimise disruption to wildlife, most vegetation cutting takes place during the winter months, outside the bird nesting season, when visitor numbers are lower and access is easier for maintenance teams.

"The cliffs are managed using a range of methods, including conservation grazing by goats, which help control vegetation growth and support the special habitats and wildlife found along our coastline."

A spokesman previously said the decision was made because the council declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019.

They said: "We declared a climate and ecological emergency in 2019 and, as part of our response, introduced changes to the management of some green spaces and verges across BCP, as many other councils have.

"Allowing selected areas to grow to maturity helps support wildlife and increase biodiversity, while we continue to maintain spaces that are safe and accessible for leisure and dog walking.

"We aim to strike a balanced approach that benefits both residents and nature, while making the best use of available resources."

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