‘STAY AWAY FROM EDGE’

VISITORS have been warned to stay away from the cliff edges at a Welsh beauty spot following two major landslips in six weeks.

And engineers are saying that more rocks could fall at any time.

Tens of thousands of tonnes of rock have fallen from the cliff onto the sand at Oxwich Bay in the two falls. There is nothing that can be done to stabilise the land, say engineers.

But they are unable to say when any further fall might occur – whether it will be weeks or years.

Mark Campbell, from Jubb Consulting Engineers, said: “There are tension cracks in the rock behind, which means we can expect more rock fall, but in terms of time it is impossible to say when.”.

The first of the two recent falls was in January, when a landslide sent boulders the size of small houses, tumbling down from the east-facing section of coastline past St Illtyd’s Church.

Both incidents happened on part of the bay which used to be a limestone quarry until the end of the 19th century.

The Wales Coast Path was closed following the rock falls, but has since reopened after it was deemed to be a safe distance away from the area.

But Swansea coastguards have warned people to stay away from the edge of the cliff.

And Ian Williams, who owns the land and the nearby Oxwich Bay Hotel said: “It’s spectacular and people will want to come and look at it, but the message is please don’t go into it.

“We’re advised that more could move, and if they did, people wouldn’t get out in time”

A Swansea Council spokesman added: “The coast path is far enough away from the rockslide so as not to be a danger to walkers. We are monitoring the situation.”