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07/05/2008
Beauty Spot Landslide In Dorset
A landslide has ruined more than 400 metres of a world famous Dorset beauty spot.
The area affected runs along the Jurassic Coast between Lyme Regis and Charmouth and is part of a World Heritage coastline.
Experts were surveying the damage yesterday evening.
Portland Coastguard were alerted to the landslide after several emergency calls.
The West Dorset District Council have advised people to avoid the beach area up to approximately 400 metres towards Charmouth.
There is no access along the beach to Charmouth from Lyme Regis or to Lyme Regis from Charmouth.
Police said it was the "worst landslide for 100 years" but that it "occurred as part of a natural process".
A spokesperson said the landslip is 300 metres wide at the bottom of a slope. It is believed that no buildings or property are affected.
West Dorset District Council's Planning and Environment Director David Evans said: "I would strongly advise people to keep away from the landslip for their own safety. It is not in a fossil area and is extremely muddy."
Richard Edmonds who works as earth science manager at the Jurassic Coast World Heritage centre said that landslips were "quite frequent" but that the latest was "quite spectacular". He added that rocks "the size of car engines, possibly the size of cars" could roll down.
Simon Palmer, Portland Coastguard watch assistant said there would be a problem keeping fossilers descending on the beach. He said the biggest concern would be members of the public "putting themselves in danger by getting underneath these potentially hazardous lumps of rocks".
Lyme Regis, nicknamed "The Pearl of Dorset" is built on an unstable stretch of coastline. Previous landslides have unearthed fossils on the beaches.
West Dorset District Council has to date carried out two major schemes to prevent further damage from landslides.
The Jurassic Coast – England's first World Heritage Site - covers 95 miles of coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks over 185 million years old.
(DS)
The area affected runs along the Jurassic Coast between Lyme Regis and Charmouth and is part of a World Heritage coastline.
Experts were surveying the damage yesterday evening.
Portland Coastguard were alerted to the landslide after several emergency calls.
The West Dorset District Council have advised people to avoid the beach area up to approximately 400 metres towards Charmouth.
There is no access along the beach to Charmouth from Lyme Regis or to Lyme Regis from Charmouth.
Police said it was the "worst landslide for 100 years" but that it "occurred as part of a natural process".
A spokesperson said the landslip is 300 metres wide at the bottom of a slope. It is believed that no buildings or property are affected.
West Dorset District Council's Planning and Environment Director David Evans said: "I would strongly advise people to keep away from the landslip for their own safety. It is not in a fossil area and is extremely muddy."
Richard Edmonds who works as earth science manager at the Jurassic Coast World Heritage centre said that landslips were "quite frequent" but that the latest was "quite spectacular". He added that rocks "the size of car engines, possibly the size of cars" could roll down.
Simon Palmer, Portland Coastguard watch assistant said there would be a problem keeping fossilers descending on the beach. He said the biggest concern would be members of the public "putting themselves in danger by getting underneath these potentially hazardous lumps of rocks".
Lyme Regis, nicknamed "The Pearl of Dorset" is built on an unstable stretch of coastline. Previous landslides have unearthed fossils on the beaches.
West Dorset District Council has to date carried out two major schemes to prevent further damage from landslides.
The Jurassic Coast – England's first World Heritage Site - covers 95 miles of coastline from East Devon to Dorset, with rocks over 185 million years old.
(DS)
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