THE tourism information centre in Bude has issued a response following criticism surrounding the sale of polystyrene body boards.

Residents have criticised Bude Tourist Information Centre after it was found to be selling bodyboards made of polystyrene after previously launching a campaign to prevent their sale within the town.

One resident said: “For years, Bude has been proud to lead the way in tackling plastic pollution and promoting responsible tourism. Many local organisations and businesses have shown that it’s entirely possible to welcome visitors while protecting our beautiful coastline.

“That’s why it’s saddening to see Bude Bude Area Tourist Board go back on its intentions and commitments made last year to protect Bude’s natural environment - they were delivery partner on a local campaign to remove cheap, environmentally harmful polystyrene bodyboards from sale in Bude. These products are notorious for breaking quickly, shedding microplastics into our sea, littering our beaches and harming wildlife.”

In 2024, the organisation announced that it was teaming up a number of charities in an effort to “rid Bude of cheap polystyrene bodyboards”.

However, following the backlash, the centre has stated that the boards were ordered in error.

A spokesperson told the Post: “The small polystyrene swim floats (kick floats) were the result of an ordering error; we regret that they went on sale and acknowledge this conflicted with our policy of several years not to stock polystyrene products. We have reviewed our processes to ensure this does not happen again and reaffirm our commitment to not selling the “cheap nasty polystyrene” boards.

“Additionally, for many years, we have worked to prioritise durable, environmentally responsible products in our shops, from wood and metal items to recycled and longer-life alternatives. Each year, as more suppliers embrace sustainability, we expand our range to include these better options. This is something we are proud of and fully intend to continue.”