This looks like a really good positive development and it’s great to see the harbour in all its glory. It also brings together people who care about our harbour and its development. Good on you.
I am an ex Aber lifeboat man, ex Aber surf life saving club member, but still a keen fisherman and surfer and have enjoyed harbour life since the 70's. I am a bit concerned about site of any web cams and who and how many people it will attract. For example many good surfing breaks, in other parts of the country, have been spoilt for locals by masses of people who can see surf conditions from a web cam and drop everything and head to sea without any knowledge of tides, rips, rocks and hazards. Some, and by no means all, tend not to care too much for the local environment and local population because they live elsewhere.
Aberystwyth has a wonderful breaking wave but it is not suited to crowds, and crowds is what we will get, if a web cam shows surfing conditions on Aberystwyth Trap. They will turn up in numbers and in all manner of craft, wind surfers, kite surfers, canoes, surf ski, long boards short boards, jet skis, inflatable tow in tag teams, power boats etc. They will also come in all skill levels from downright dangerous through careless and inexperienced to highly skilled, and highly skilled but arrogant and contemptuous.
Better if there has to be a web cam that it keeps an eye on the marina and the gap, and then a boat owner can see tide, wind and conditions and it would also provide another deterrent to would be thieves.
Would it be possible to start an on site discussion on pros and cons of web cams and where they are placed, before setting one up? Then all harbour users, even those without internet access, should have a chance to make their feelings known. I would hate to loose the peace and tranquillity and the feel of the harbour by placing a web cam and getting an undesired result.
Thank you
andrew

TAKEN FROM FRONT PAGE BY SITE ADMIN AND PLACED HERE