Sunday, December 22, 2024

Dog walker narrowly misses landslide as it wrecks beach huts

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This is the moment a dog walker narrowly misses a landslide as it wipes out several beach huts.

Video footage shows a dislodged tree and other shrubbery tumbling down a cliff towards the seafront at a Bournemouth beach in Dorset.

The dog walker only realises he is in harm’s way at the last moment, escaping the landslide on Saturday morning by seconds.

The force of the impact dislodged 14 huts which were pushed onto the promenade, a popular spot for dog walking.

It is the second landslide to take place at Durley Chine beach, a few hundred yards west of the town’s pier, in the past 10 days.

A large cordon has been placed around the scene by the police and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council (BCP) to protect the public in case of further landslips.

Georgina Humphries, a visitor to the area, said: “We’ve had so much rain lately, it was only a matter of time.

“You’ve got to feel for those with beach huts – they cost a fortune.”

Richard Herrett, the cabinet member for destination at BCP council, said: “Following further heavy rainfall, we can confirm that a cliff slip near Durley Chine took place at 9.45 this morning and has affected access to a number of beach huts and parts of the adjacent promenade.

“This is in the same area of the chine that experienced a cliff slip earlier this month and a wider section has been cordoned off in the interest of public safety while the site is inspected by the council’s flood and coastal erosion risk management team.

“We are informing the licensees of the beach huts and will provide updates once a further assessment has been carried out.”

Dorset Police has been approached for comment.

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