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Warnings have been given to STAY AWAY from an area of the coastline at Whitburn. The warning comes following the already crumbling cliffs at Byers Hole being damaged even further by recent high sea and big tides.
The base of the cliffs have long since been eroded away and several caves cut back deep into the rock. About 4 years ago, I had to photograph the extent to which the caves undermined the cliffs, which involved (at one point) crawling through a gap from one cave to another. They were in a desperate condition back then !
The reason for the survey (my involvement was only part of it), was to see what the likelihood of the filled in Whitburn Quarry becoming exposed by the sea was. Also to determine how long it would be before there was a major collapse.
Well, it looks like that time has now arrived – The recent heavy seas have broken through the cave structure and into the old pit of Whitburn Quarry.
As well as there being IMMINENT danger of a MAJOR collapse, there is also the probability that the waste in the Quarry pit will end up in the sea and on the shore.
The National Trust is expecting this to have a “severe” affect on marine life along that stretch of coastline.
An Exclusion Zone has been set up and is regularly monitored.
I noticed the Police were down there on Monday, so it may well be that the “monitoring” of the Exclusion Zone is being carried out by them.
I’ve enclosed a plan showing the extent of the no-go area.
For your own safety (and to avoid a run in with the Authorities) DON’T GO THERE!
[Edited on 8/10/2003 by TC]
[Edited on 8/10/2003 by TC]
The base of the cliffs have long since been eroded away and several caves cut back deep into the rock. About 4 years ago, I had to photograph the extent to which the caves undermined the cliffs, which involved (at one point) crawling through a gap from one cave to another. They were in a desperate condition back then !
The reason for the survey (my involvement was only part of it), was to see what the likelihood of the filled in Whitburn Quarry becoming exposed by the sea was. Also to determine how long it would be before there was a major collapse.
Well, it looks like that time has now arrived – The recent heavy seas have broken through the cave structure and into the old pit of Whitburn Quarry.
As well as there being IMMINENT danger of a MAJOR collapse, there is also the probability that the waste in the Quarry pit will end up in the sea and on the shore.
The National Trust is expecting this to have a “severe” affect on marine life along that stretch of coastline.
An Exclusion Zone has been set up and is regularly monitored.
I noticed the Police were down there on Monday, so it may well be that the “monitoring” of the Exclusion Zone is being carried out by them.
I’ve enclosed a plan showing the extent of the no-go area.
For your own safety (and to avoid a run in with the Authorities) DON’T GO THERE!
[Edited on 8/10/2003 by TC]
[Edited on 8/10/2003 by TC]
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