Angry locals of West Bay, a picturesque seaside town in Dorset made famous by the ITV detective drama Broadchurch, have hit back after recent criticism of their home.

The town, which served as a key location in the popular TV series starring Olivia Colman and David Tennant, has become a must-visit spot for fans.

However, some residents grew frustrated with the influx of tourists, claiming it had left the town looking “tired and tatty.”

Simon Myles, head of the town’s Consultative Committee and owner of a boat charter business, expressed his fury to The Sun about seagulls being fed and a lack of signage discouraging such behaviour.

Another local named Andrew voiced concerns about the risks taken by fans attempting to capture pictures of the iconic area while also describing it as “tired and tatty.”

In response to these criticisms, Councillor Dave Rickard, leader of Bridport Council, spoke to the Daily Star on behalf of several local business and community groups.

Councillor Rickard said: “The descriptions aren’t of the West Bay we all know and love. Holidaymakers and day-trippers come back year after year in their thousands to enjoy the wonderful combination of beach, stunning Jurassic Coast views, attractions to suit all tastes, fabulous eateries, events, independent shops, summer evening markets, boat trips, paddle boarding, rowing, fossil hunting, and a working harbour.

“Yes, a few people are antisocially careless with disposing of their litter, and yes, we’d love the parking charges to be lower, but these are issues along the whole of our stretch of coastline.

“The difference is that other destinations only offer a part of what we’ve got – West Bay has it all!”

Acknowledging some issues like littering and parking charges, Cllr Rickard emphasised that these were challenges faced by coastal areas in general. He said West Bay offers a unique combination of features that sets it apart from other destinations.

Contrary to recent criticism, West Bay was ranked as the 10th best beach in England to visit this year by Parkdean Resorts. The beach has experienced a 40 percent rise in mentions on TikTok, according to an analysis of the app’s data.

Cllr Rickard concluded by stating the few individuals who provided critical interviews did not represent the majority or speak on behalf of the Town Council.

He said: “The small number of over-critical people interviewed are in my opinion not speaking for the masses and certainly not for the Town Council, but we recognise that the financial pressures on all councils are enormous now after Covid, and the current national recession.

“We all rely on our local communities to work together for their environment and I have nothing but praise for the many volunteers who add so much to the ambiance of this unique gem that is West Bay.

“West Bay is the coastal and harbour area of Bridport, whose town centre has also become part of the tourist draw with a strong independent shopping offer, events and entertainment throughout the summer, and an award-winning, twice-weekly street market – we are often described as ‘Dorset’s Eventful Town’, ‘charming, ‘breathtakingly beautiful’, and ‘spectacular’.”

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