Polish beach resort could lose out on EU funding because its waves are too noisy

Officials have warned a beach-side spa town it could lose out on EU funding because its waves are too noisy.

The resort, Swinoujscie, in Poland is in line for a £6 million handout to help local planners develop it as a luxury relaxation retreat. But developers have been warned that old Communist laws still in place could make the resort illegal because they set a 40 decibel limit on the sound of the waves.



"What the Environment Ministry is saying in effect is that our waves - which get up to 50 decibels in a storm - are against the law. We thought it was a joke at first," said one planner.

But town hall spokesman Robert Karelus explained: "It is an old law from the Communist era that was never repealed. We have to hope the ministry sees how ridiculous it is."