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Stay away from landslip
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| DANGERZONE: The landslip has uncovered an old landfill site |
THE public is being warned to stay away from the site of a major landslip in Lyme Regis.
The Spittles site between Lyme Regis and Charmouth on Dorset's Jurassic Coast shifted on Tuesday evening and there is danger of further slips in the coming days.
There have been fears that
fossil hunters will make their way to the site in the hope of finding newly unearthed specimens.
Simon Parker, Dorset County Council's County emergency planning officer, said there were "very real physical dangers" at the site - a former landfill site.
He added: "There could be a quicksand effect if anyone tried to climb onto the slip and it would be very easy to become trapped.
"Added to that is the risk of falling rocks and earth as well as items being released from the old landfill site. There is broken glass and other debris which could cause serious injuries."
A multi-agency group, including Dorset County Council, West Dorset District Council, Dorset Police, Dorset Fire and Rescue, the Environment Agency and health have already met to discuss how the incident will be managed.
Although landslips are common along this stretch of coastline the Purbeck area is unlikely to suffer a landslip as dramatic as that near Lyme Regis an expert says.
Mike Goater, of Purbeck District Council, said such incidents were normally triggered by heavy rainfall.
The Lyme Regis landslip may have been caused by added water to the cliff from another source, he added.
The landfill site which has been exposed by the slip was opened in Victorian times and closed in the mid 1970s.
Due to the instability of the site not all the materials released have been identified but some may be potentially hazardous, say experts.
The Environment Agency plans to take preliminary water samples in the next few days.
7:00pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Angus, Bournemouth on 8:13pm Thu 8 May 08
"The landfill site which has been exposed by the slip was opened in Victorian times and closed in the mid 1970s." So much for Victorian values! They were a bit short sighted when it came to preserving the environment.
"The landfill site which has been exposed by the slip was opened in Victorian times and closed in the mid 1970s." So much for Victorian values! They were a bit short sighted when it came to preserving the environment.
Posted by: Citizen Smith, around on 9:26pm Thu 8 May 08
Well Angus - our kids are going to say the same about us.
Well Angus - our kids are going to say the same about us.
Posted by: Christopher, Wallisdown & Winton West on 9:54pm Thu 8 May 08
How stupid can some people be. The cliff face is still moving today, and could swallow anyone beneath if it were to give way again. Why do people not listen.
How stupid can some people be. The cliff face is still moving today, and could swallow anyone beneath if it were to give way again. Why do people not listen.
Posted by: PokesdownMark, Pokesdown on 11:34pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]Citizen Smith[/bold] wrote:
Well Angus - our kids are going to say the same about us.[/quote] Extremely good point there Citizen Smith.
Citizen Smith wrote:
Well Angus - our kids are going to say the same about us.
Extremely good point there Citizen Smith.
Posted by: Munkstar, Bournemouth on 7:17am Fri 9 May 08
Stay away whilst we 'experts' bag all the good fossils and have are names written in esteemed journals , or summat.
Stay away whilst we 'experts' bag all the good fossils and have are names written in esteemed journals , or summat.
Posted by: Munkstar, Bournemouth on 7:19am Fri 9 May 08
If only we had wheelie bin collections once a month then there would be less land fill/slips and less wooly mammoth tusks dangerously exposed etc
If only we had wheelie bin collections once a month then there would be less land fill/slips and less wooly mammoth tusks dangerously exposed etc
Posted by: rhodie, Lyme Regis on 10:50am Sat 10 May 08
Yesterday access from Lyme Regis was barred with a council notice saying that the footpath was closed and anyone using it would be liable to a fine of 400 pounds. What footpath? What about the area between high and low water mark?
If you don't fancy defying the "law" there is no restriction on access from Charmouth!
Yesterday access from Lyme Regis was barred with a council notice saying that the footpath was closed and anyone using it would be liable to a fine of 400 pounds. What footpath? What about the area between high and low water mark?
If you don't fancy defying the "law" there is no restriction on access from Charmouth!
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