Hello Jay,
An interesting coincidence and rather unfortunate for Ms. Green
It is obvious to everyone that falling rock does not mix well with flesh & bone and the notices are there, following expert technical advice, to make people stop and think at the very least!
I too witnessed the recent 2 cliff falls on Easter Sunday - I wonder if Sarah Green still thinks it worth the risk to take her children to that part of the beach for a "peaceful day by the sea?"
Will the council take action and close it off or wait until there is a fatality? It appears that all the talk is centred on the distant future of the eastern part of town not to the current threat on young lives!
A recent edition of the Sidmouth Herald carried a front page story, with photograph, telling of sunbathers spreading out their towels and windbreaks amongst freshly fallen rocks - they really do enter blinker mode when they get down to the beach don't they?
When will people realise that signs along the seafront just do not do the job - a beach-guard or beach-manager is required to be physically present during the holiday months!
Another large fall a couple of days ago - right where visitors (and some locals) wander amonst the rocks. I just cannot understand why the authorities do not place some really graphic notices nearby - someones gonna die!!
Oh dear ....... quite a lot of people clambering over the freshly fallen rubble near the river mouth over the bank holiday. When it was dry enough to get out and about of course!
Well 'Local' - your point about the wet weather is more poignant than perhaps you realise. The land on the top of the cliffs will be thoroughly soaked now and bearing down upon the weakening sandstone below - I think we're in for another serious shift within the next week or so.
Lets just hope there ain't any visitors picnicing below - or sunbathing locals, come to think of it.
We've just had another cliff fall at Pennington Point - a nice addition to the increasing piles of rubble and foiliage on the beach - and it appears that some people have ignored a direct approach from a district councillor (who is also the local Safety Champion) warning them of the danger when they were under the cliffs.
Its the 'grockle' with brain in neutral again!!
With all the recent rain I think we're in for a series of more falls. We've got the main holiday season approaching now and the Folk Festival in a couple of weeks!
I just cannot understand this district councillor responsible for safety - he's more interested in not spoiling the views than installing proper signs that may save a life.
Another large fall last Sunday and yet still holiday-makers sunbathe under the cliff edge.
There was also two rock falls earlier this afternoon at about 2.55pm - clouds of dust attracted the attention of hordes of holiday-makers - it was just pure luck that no-one was hurt as the tide was out and there had been plenty of people down on that part of the beach.
The inshore rescue boat launched at 3.55pm to go round and have a look - albeit an hour after the event.
..... and what is it our erstwhile councillors say?
1. We don't want to spoil the view with more warning signs.
2. If they (holidaymakers) ignore the signs - thats their fault.
What a really responsible attitude!!
An hour's delay seems a bit excessive.
Absolutely.
From reports in today's Sidmouth Herald it now appears that HM Coastguard agree with posters on this thread and suggest that the beach under those cliffs should be closed.
The councillors on the other hand don't know what to do - just huff and puff about not spoiling the view with more adequate signs and leaving the 'visitors' to their own fate if they ignore the signs. These councillors are just not fit for purpose when it comes to making a quick decision that could save someones life - they would rather refer it to the National Trust or some committee so that they can 'talk' about it.
I see there are piles of fallen rock at the entrance to the small cave-like holes in the cliff by the Sid mouth - that would have definitely killed anybody playing in those spots - something that I've seen children doing only 2 weeks ago whilst their parents were diving into their picnic baskets or looking out to sea.
Good to see that the authorities have acted, at last, and put some form of barrier across the access to the beach in front of the collapsing cliffs at Pennington Point - they do drag their feet don't they?
The current online poll on this site is interesting - it asks whether EDDC - or us the council taxpayer - should pay to stop the erosion. I would have thought this was a national responsibility.
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