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Bournemouth looks to get cliff lift up again, and down, after landslip Bournemouth looks to get cliff lift up again, and down, after landslip
(about 1 hour later)
Engineers have begun the tricky task of puzzling out how to get a popular Edwardian funicular railway working again after a landslip sent tons of rocks, soil and sand tumbling on to the tracks.Engineers have begun the tricky task of puzzling out how to get a popular Edwardian funicular railway working again after a landslip sent tons of rocks, soil and sand tumbling on to the tracks.
Council staff are also patrolling the cliffs above Bournemouth’s beaches to assess whether any further slips may follow.Council staff are also patrolling the cliffs above Bournemouth’s beaches to assess whether any further slips may follow.
Built in 1908, the East Cliff lift is one of three that whizzes visitors and local people 52 metres from sea-level to the street above.Built in 1908, the East Cliff lift is one of three that whizzes visitors and local people 52 metres from sea-level to the street above.
The site, between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers, was cordoned off on Saturday night because of concerns about the safety of the clifftop, which is topped with bluebells and gorse.The site, between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers, was cordoned off on Saturday night because of concerns about the safety of the clifftop, which is topped with bluebells and gorse.
A memorial to the Red Arrows pilot Flt Lt Jon Egging, who died when his aircraft crashed at the 2011 Bournemouth air festival, has not been damaged but is also fenced off. A memorial to the Red Arrows pilot Flt Lieut Jon Egging, who died when his aircraft crashed at the 2011 Bournemouth air festival, has not been damaged but is also fenced off.
Council staff were alerted to the landslide just before dawn on Sunday morning. As well as covering the bottom part of the lift track, the slip demolished a public toilet block (which fortunately was locked and out of action anyway). Nobody was hurt in the landfall. A council spokesman said: “Our staff attended East Cliff promenade & cliff top at 5am on Sunday 24 April after reports of a cliff slip at the site. Council staff were alerted to the landslide just before dawn on Sunday morning. As well as covering the bottom part of the lift track, the slip demolished a public toilet block (which fortunately was locked and out of action anyway).
Nobody was hurt in the landfall. A council spokesman said: “Our staff attended East Cliff promenade & cliff top at 5am on Sunday 24 April after reports of a cliff slip at the site.
“Our immediate concern is keeping the public and staff safe. Whilst the promenade remains accessible on foot, both the surrounding clifftop and immediate cliff area to the top and foot of the landslip have been closed off. We ask the public to respect the closure and not to enter the site.“Our immediate concern is keeping the public and staff safe. Whilst the promenade remains accessible on foot, both the surrounding clifftop and immediate cliff area to the top and foot of the landslip have been closed off. We ask the public to respect the closure and not to enter the site.
“The slip has demolished the East Cliff toilets and significantly undermined the supporting structure for the east cliff lift. Our initial inspection suggests that further movement is possible as the landslip settles and obviously the area will remain closed during that time.”“The slip has demolished the East Cliff toilets and significantly undermined the supporting structure for the east cliff lift. Our initial inspection suggests that further movement is possible as the landslip settles and obviously the area will remain closed during that time.”
A specialist technical engineer has visited and the authority is deciding how best to get the area cleared and facilities back in action as soon as possible. The spokesman said: “However at this stage, we expect it will take a significant period of time before everything is operational again.”A specialist technical engineer has visited and the authority is deciding how best to get the area cleared and facilities back in action as soon as possible. The spokesman said: “However at this stage, we expect it will take a significant period of time before everything is operational again.”
The council has not concluded what caused the slip but one theory is that heavy rainfall on the Dorset coast, coupled with a dip in temperature over the weekend, could have triggered it.The council has not concluded what caused the slip but one theory is that heavy rainfall on the Dorset coast, coupled with a dip in temperature over the weekend, could have triggered it.
There was more extraordinary weather at the site on Tuesday – sleet, hail, rain but also warm sunshine. The changeable weather made it trying for the many visitors who had journeyed from far and wide to view the damage.There was more extraordinary weather at the site on Tuesday – sleet, hail, rain but also warm sunshine. The changeable weather made it trying for the many visitors who had journeyed from far and wide to view the damage.
Jim Brophy, 72, had taken a drive down from Somerset to take a look. “It is spectacular. I’m just glad it happened in the early hours when nobody was around. It could have been nasty if it had happened during the daytime.”Jim Brophy, 72, had taken a drive down from Somerset to take a look. “It is spectacular. I’m just glad it happened in the early hours when nobody was around. It could have been nasty if it had happened during the daytime.”
Madge Mason, 42, a holidaymaker from Berkshire, said she always enjoyed her trips on the funicular. “You get great views as you zoom up. It’s a fun way to travel. I do hope they get it working again.”Madge Mason, 42, a holidaymaker from Berkshire, said she always enjoyed her trips on the funicular. “You get great views as you zoom up. It’s a fun way to travel. I do hope they get it working again.”
Mason was having to huff and puff up the East Cliff Zig Zag instead – a steep path. “Coming up and down here a few times would soon get you fit,” she said.Mason was having to huff and puff up the East Cliff Zig Zag instead – a steep path. “Coming up and down here a few times would soon get you fit,” she said.