Carcass left to rot in beach stream

A CONCERNED dog walker wants Moray Council to remove a decaying seal carcass from a popular local beach.

Retired Ferryhill resident Annette MacLeod first noticed the body at the footbridge on Roseilse beach around five or six weeks ago, but her pleas to the local authority to dispose of it have been refused.

She said: "It's in a fresh water stream, right on the beach, where children play and where dogs go to drink water when out running in the area.

"There will be lots more children visiting over the next few months on school and nursery outings."

She added: "The carcass is very obvious, unsightly and smelly and is spoiling a beautiful part of the beach where numerous locals and tourists visit every day. I saw dogs eating it last week - it's a public health hazard."

However, Annette's requests to have the council's environmental department take the seal away have been knocked back.

Their first customer services advisor said: "The Moray Council are aware of the carcass but unfortunately due to its location we cannot access the location with a vehicle to remove it."

Annette suggested that a vehicle such as an ArgoCat would easily access the site via Roseisle.

She said: "Simply cross the beach until the spring is reached or drag the carcass out into the water with a rope ... I find it unbelievable that in this day and age that carcass is being left to rot in full view of the public!"

The advisor replied: "I am afraid The Moray Council do not have a suitable vehicle to remove the carcass which has decomposed to such an extent that it cannot be removed by hand."

"So nothing is being done because access is difficult," finished Annette. "Were a whale to be washed up on the beach, would this still be the same reaction?"

The local authority has since advised Forestry and Land Scotland of the issue.