A RESIDENT has described witnessing a dramatic cliff fall in the New Forest as “pretty shocking” after capturing and sharing it on social media to warn others about the dangers of coastal erosion.
Richard, who lives in the New Forest, filmed the incident while walking along the seafront at Barton on Sea on Sunday, December 28.
The footage, recorded from behind safety barriers on the lower beach, shows a significant section of cliff collapsing.
A regular walker in the area, Richard has lived nearby for five years and says he walks the length of Barton beach almost daily as part of his exercise routine.
He said: “I normally walk from one end of Barton to the other. I do that daily and often walk along the clifftop and then down to the beach and back again as far as we can go now.
“I’ve quite often seen ground movement and a bit of slippage from those cliffs, but nothing as substantial as what I witnessed yesterday. That was pretty shocking.”
Richard said the collapse happened at around 4.04pm, near the end of the main upper beach, where New Forest District Council has installed fencing due to safety concerns.
He added: “I was there with a friend, standing behind the barriers, when it happened. I’ve never seen that amount of land slippage on this section of the coast.”
Richard also expressed concern that despite warning signs and barriers, many people continue to ignore safety advice.
“Being down there pretty much daily, I see people ignoring the signs and going down there. People pull the barriers away and walk round them.
"I’ve seen people with dogs, people sitting on the beach, even sitting right under the cliff where the fall came down. It’s very concerning,” he said.
A spokesperson for New Forest District Council said: “This footage, filmed yesterday (Sunday 28 December), shows a significant cliff fall at Barton on Sea.
“We regularly carry out coastal monitoring and works to manage risks where we can, but coastal cliffs are unstable and can give way without warning. Conditions can also change quickly, especially after wet and windy weather.
“If you see safety signs or barriers, they are there to protect you. Do not move or climb over them. Please follow any closures in place and always keep well back from cliff edges and the base of cliffs when visiting our coast.”
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