Beauty spot blunder shuts steps after a day

NEW steps leading to a coastal beauty spot are being replaced because they are too small for people with big feet.

Each step on a flight leading to Blake Hill, which overlooks Poole Harbour, Dorset, was made around an inch shorter than planned after a measuring error by contractors.

Poole Borough Council spent nearly £35,000 to improve access to the viewpoint at Blake Hill, including the £6,000 steel steps on a steep bank.

According to safety regulations, each step tread should measure 9.84in (25cm) in depth, but the new 19ft (6m) structure’s treads are just 8.27in (21cm).

They were open to the public for just one day before the error was realised and they were swiftly closed.

Colin Lambert, a local resident, said: “It is a clear safety risk and the council are lucky no one was injured when they were briefly open.”

But another local resident said: “You couldn’t make it up! Did someone not have a tape measure to hand?”

Martin Whitchurch, the council’s open spaces development manager, said: “The fabrication of the steps was undertaken by a contractor and their measurements and drawings ... were wrong. The contractor has accepted full liability and is fabricating a new structure, which will be installed as soon as possible.” He said there would be no additional cost to the council.