Surely this is over-reaction? We've always had landslips on North Beach. And there are going to be more. I agree it makes sense to provide warnings, but to close the beach (indefinitely?) seems a step too far. And is it entirely legal to close private property in this way ... over which the public have established rights of way?
A touch of bolting the door after the horse has gone? This happens every year to the north beach in Swanage, is always cleared by the sea and, later, the local property owners. Was it chance? (Whilst looking for a missing person) combined with the public knowledge of the death of the lady further up the coast, and the need to qualify the large amount of recent spending that the local coast watch has galvanised themselves into this much publicised action?
@The Postman: The closure had been undertaken as an emergency measure for public safety, sadly the Coastguard has have come in for a lot of stick, when the decision was made by a range of groups including the local authority, Dorset Police, and some landowners. We were the only agency able to provide any assistance over the Christmas period - mainly due to our volunteer status. We will be handing it over to the local authority and landowners tomorrow who will assume liability/responsibility.
@Anonymous: Yes, the cliffs do slip every year along north beach, it's a natural process; this year has been particularly bad. We have been monitoring the cliff for many years.
Yes, we are acutely aware of the lady who sadly died earlier this year and the two persons caught in a landslip at the Beaminster Tunnel. Naturally when there is a similar risk the relevant agencies come together to formulate a plan. I have no doubt that if action was not taken a North Beach and someone was injured then there would be valid criticism. It seems that we can't win either way, although I'd rather take the flack for doing too much.
The recent spending comment is a little unfortunate given we are a team of volunteers. The Swanage Coastguard Team will not be paid a penny for the 250+ voluntary hours put in by the team over the Christmas period. I for one would rather have spent time my holiday with family and friends rather than standing under a cliff being verbally abused by a minority of persons who think they are better informed than geomorphologists and qualified land surveyors. Saying that we have had some praise also.
For the record The Echo, BBC and Meridian news all contacted us asking to see the slips.
5 comments:
I preferred this post it its original format before the mystery editor got hold of it.....
Team effort of warning and informing
Surely this is over-reaction? We've always had landslips on North Beach. And there are going to be more. I agree it makes sense to provide warnings, but to close the beach (indefinitely?) seems a step too far. And is it entirely legal to close private property in this way ... over which the public have established rights of way?
A touch of bolting the door after the horse has gone? This happens every year to the north beach in Swanage, is always cleared by the sea and, later, the local property owners.
Was it chance? (Whilst looking for a missing person) combined with the public knowledge of the death of the lady further up the coast, and the need to qualify the large amount of recent spending that the local coast watch has galvanised themselves into this much publicised action?
@The Postman: The closure had been undertaken as an emergency measure for public safety, sadly the Coastguard has have come in for a lot of stick, when the decision was made by a range of groups including the local authority, Dorset Police, and some landowners. We were the only agency able to provide any assistance over the Christmas period - mainly due to our volunteer status. We will be handing it over to the local authority and landowners tomorrow who will assume liability/responsibility.
@Anonymous: Yes, the cliffs do slip every year along north beach, it's a natural process; this year has been particularly bad. We have been monitoring the cliff for many years.
Yes, we are acutely aware of the lady who sadly died earlier this year and the two persons caught in a landslip at the Beaminster Tunnel. Naturally when there is a similar risk the relevant agencies come together to formulate a plan. I have no doubt that if action was not taken a North Beach and someone was injured then there would be valid criticism. It seems that we can't win either way, although I'd rather take the flack for doing too much.
The recent spending comment is a little unfortunate given we are a team of volunteers. The Swanage Coastguard Team will not be paid a penny for the 250+ voluntary hours put in by the team over the Christmas period. I for one would rather have spent time my holiday with family and friends rather than standing under a cliff being verbally abused by a minority of persons who think they are better informed than geomorphologists and qualified land surveyors. Saying that we have had some praise also.
For the record The Echo, BBC and Meridian news all contacted us asking to see the slips.
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