Fresh calls for better warning signs on Brean Down have been made this week after another dog plunged to its death over the cliffs – the fifth this year.
The animal tumbled down the steep rockface near Brean Down Fort on Wednesday afternoon (June 30th).
Dog owner Ann Richards, who was walking on the Down during Wednesday’s accident, has urged the National Trust to reconsider its policy on installing extra warning signs along the rocky outcrop.
She told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It was very upsetting to see the owner and his wife both in tears as they walked away with the blook-soaked body of their dog near the fort.”
“I am certain that much more can be done here to alert pet owners to the dangers and reduce the number of accidents like this.”
Ann added: “The signs explaining the dangerous nature of the cliffs should be more visible and updated frequently with statistics about the number of recent animal deaths.”
“I’d also like to see pet owners who don’t walk their animals on leads getting fines or being banned altogether from using Brean Down. A tougher policy would reduce the number of accidents.”
The latest accident comes after Burnham-On-Sea.com reported in March how Bath couple Lorraine and Jonathan Hawkins recovered the dead body of Daisy, their greyhound cross whippet, at the base of the cliffs near Brean Down Fort after she fell down the cliffs.
A black springer died in April, while another animal had a lucky escape in April when it was found safe and well after tumbling down the cliffs.
The National Trust recently said that extra warning signs will not be introduced on Brean Down.
Mark Courtiour, the National Trust’s Countryside Manager for Somerset, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We are obviously very sad to hear about this. We do, however, have clear warning signs telling dog owners that they must keep their dogs under control on the steep cliffs. These signs are placed at both entrances to Brean Down so every dog walker will see them.”
This lucky dog tumbled down the cliffs at Brean Down and survived in April – but others have not been so fortunate
