New landslide at scene of beach rockfall tragedy (From Dorset Echo)
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New landslide at scene of beach rockfall tragedy
3:00pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in News By James Tourgout
Burton Bradstock beach is closed after a further landslip
A NEW landslide has hit the section of coast at Burton Bradstock where tragic Charlotte Blackman was killed in July.
The ‘significant’ rockfall was discovered on the shore by a National Trust ranger near the Hive beach on Friday morning.
The National Trust and coastguards are warning people to keep away from the scene as the cliffs remain unpredictable.
Charlotte Blackman was buried under a massive landslide in July on the same section of coastline, but closer to the Freshwater end nearer Bridport.
The beach and coastal path between Freshwater and Burton Bradstock have been closed since her death, with a series of warnings about the dangers.
Mark Collins, who is West Bay coastguard station officer, said: “This is the best example of why the beach is still closed.
“It is why we give safety advice about keeping away from the base of the cliffs. If anyone had been walking underneath it may have been very different.”
Mr Collins urged people to keep away from the cliffs and be aware of the dangers on the coast.
The National Trust owns the distinctive section of cliffs and coastline where Charlotte Blackman was killed and where the latest rockfall happened.
A ranger spotted the debris at about 11am while on a routine monitoring visit to Burton Bradstock.
The National Trust alerted coastguards and the police about the development.
Rangers were on the scene to assess the size of the rockfall and see whether the closure zone needed to be widened.
A spokesman for the trust said: “We would urge people to stay away. The beach and South West Coast Path between Hive Beach and Freshwater Caravan Park is closed.
“People visiting the coast really must take a moment to read warning signs in car parks and on nearby paths and to follow the advice for their own safety.
“It highlights that this is a very dynamic and changing environment.
“The coastline is constantly eroding and it is very difficult to predict when these incidents will happen.”
The Met Office recently issued a warning about the danger of more rockfalls following advice from the British Geological Survey.
It said coastal areas in the south west of England, including Dorset, were in particular danger of collapsing cliff edges and rockfalls.
