RNLI to develop standard warnings

9:47am Wednesday 14th April 2004

A NATIONAL standard for warning signs to try and cut deaths and accidents along the coast is to be introduced, but has received a mixed welcome from local town and parish councillors.

It follows the Royal National Lifeboat Institution announcment that it plans to develop a reference guide to a national standard for beach safety signage. RNLI says there is a "high level" of confusion by the public and they hope the new standard would be used by the authorities when coastal signage is renewed.

Coun Stan Lewis, of Ulverston Town Council and company secretary of Ulverston Inshore Rescue, said one of its early successes was getting South Lakeland District Council to install new signage last summer.

"Some signs were found to have just rotted away and did need replacing. SLDC listened to us but they would not now be very enthusiastic about replacing signs they have just renewed," said Coun Lewis.

"The trouble we have had has been with foreigners working in the area. How many languages could you include?"

Keith Budden, chairman of Bolton-le-Sands Parish Council said: "You would have to have a range of languages but where would you stop? Many people of many nationalities come here to enjoy our shore and long may it continue.

"But you could end up with a sign saying danger beyond this point in 25 languages. It's more likely to be universal symbols understood by everyone, but that in itself is not going to be easy to do."

Of the cockling tragedy in which 20 Chinese people died in February, Coun Budden said he did not think signs would have made any difference.

"I don't think it would. They were desperate people in a desperate situation and they took a chance to go out fishing, to gather cockles, as it was going dark. They were ill-equipped and ill-prepared."

Both councillors said regardless of the signs in place, people did not always follow them.

Steve Wills, RNLI beach safety manager said: "Signage is often questioned after a drowning and is subsequently highlighted as a means to reduce risk in the future. Sometimes it is noted that there has been a lack of safety information, at other times there is a lack of understanding about the information that was provided."

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