DORSET is still open for business despite a massive landslide which claimed the life of a young woman and has prompted authorities to close paths and warn bathers off beaches.

It has been stressed that holidaymakers should make the most of the area – but should taking note of warning signs and safety advice along the Jurassic Coast.

It follows the landslip at Burton Bradstock in which 22-year-old Charlotte Blackman was killed. There was a series of falls before a major collapse at the site near Freshwater Beach Holiday Park.

Locals say generally that tourists flout safety warnings by venturing too close to the perilous cliffs along the coast. There have also been calls for more warnings signs for visitors.

Regular beachgoer Colin Cox from Bridport said visitors had long neglected warning signs on the coast and called for people to show ‘greater respect’ to the cliffs.’ He said: “It is exceptionally dangerous, but people still do it. They still walk their dogs on the cliff top, they still stroll under the overhanging cliff, they search for fossils.

“It is a tragedy, especially for such a young woman to be involved. In the last few years we’ve lost a lot of the cliff face, and it can happen at any time it seems.”

More graphic signs warning of rock falls were already being put up before the tragedy – but were not yet at Freshwater or Burton Bradstock.

Although council officials are adamant that there are enough signs and information on the dangers of landslides on the advice of earth scientists the signs are to be more graphic.

Representatives from various authorities met yesterday to promote messages in the wake of the Burton beach tragedy.

They said that 16 miles of coastal cliff top path had been closed between Lyme Regis and West Bexington, while safety assessments are carried out.

Visitors and residents are advised to avoid areas of beach that have a cliff backdrop, due to the risk of further landslides.

Dorset County Council emergency planning officer Simon Parker said: “Only those beaches that are at risk in terms of being very overshadowed by high cliffs behind them are closed and the bathing beaches remain open. People shouldn’t be put off from visiting, it is a great place to be.”

Craig Baker of Dorset Fire and Rescue said: “We just want to emphasise that people should come down and enjoy the environment but don’t go to close to the rock face and take notice of the warning signs.”

And director of environment for West Dorset District Council David Evans, added: “I would say to visitors to come to West Dorset, enjoy the place but follow the signs they are there for your safety.”

Updated information about which beaches are safe to visit can be found at jurassiccoast.org and dorsetforyou.com

COAST ‘CONSTANTLY ERODING’

LANDSLIPS are common along the constantly-eroding Jurassic Coast but recent severe rainfall has left some of the cliffs in an unstable condition.

Dorset County Council emergency planning officer Simon Parker said: “The normal expectation of Burton Bradstock cliffs is that it is normally a winter driven erosion process of waves hitting rocks so this is unusual and unprecedented large rock fall in the summer period.

“We have done an awful lot of work to make sure that our emergency plans are in place.”