A letter from a teenage student campaigning to protect the oceans and marine life, by planning to arrange a ‘British Beach Clean-up tour’ during the next summer holiday, has been commended by councillors in Tenby.

Correspondence from 15-year-old school pupil Tyla Robinson from South Northamptonshire, came before members of Tenby Town Council at their meeting on Tuesday night, explaining how she hoped to gain support from town and community councils across the UK for organised events between July 1 and August 20.

“Last year, my family and I went to the Dominican Republic, where I was lucky enough to become a certified open water diver, and a certified coral conservationist, with PADI, and whilst taking my course I learnt that coral reefs and aquatic animals were slowly dying because of plastic and rubbish pollution in the ocean. This trip opened my eyes up massively and I realised the damage is happening much quicker than I ever imagined it could!” she wrote.

“I knew something had to be done to save the oceans, reefs and marine life. I started to recycle more plastics, I tried to avoid using straws and I also tried to speak to my friends about using less plastic. However, recently it hit me that we can all do small things to help, but the oceans are still being destroyed, and I need to do something more than just recycle.

“To make this event possible and successful, I am going to need lots of support,” she continued.

The Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, praised the letter and idea, and Clr. Laurence Blackhall also said that he would take the correspondence forward with the Plastic Free Tenby group, who were due to meet soon.

Clr. Mrs. Lane also said that she had seen a ‘wonderful idea’ on Facebook which involved fish shaped bins to encourage children to dispose of their plastic waste in.

“We could possibly have them at the bottom of every slip to the beaches in Tenby,” she said, asking for Pembrokeshire Engineering to be contacted to see if they could come up with any design ready for the summer.

Clr. Mike Evans said that such a project would fit the criteria for the Pembrokeshire enhancing scheme fund.