Safety petition appeal following Dylan Cecil tragedy (From This is The West Country)

Safety petition appeal following Dylan Cecil tragedy

11:43am Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Kirsty James

MORE than 270 people have supported an online campaign promoting a petition urging for increased safety along Burnham’s beach, following the death of Dylan Cecil.

The four-year-old boy, from Kettering, died last month (August 19) after falling into the sea when he slipped of the jetty. His body was recovered four days later near Burnham Yacht Club.

A Facebook page called ‘Make Burnham-On-Sea Safe for Our Children’ has now been set up with a link to a petition addressed to Sedgemoor District Council and Burnham MP Tessa Munt.

The petition reads: “The signatories on this petition believe safety in Burnham-on-Sea is of paramount importance given the tragic death of Dylan Cecil and action needs to be taken sooner rather than later before another innocent life is taken from us.”

It outlines several suggestions for increased safety including fencing off the slipway at both ends and allocating its use only to lifeboats and other rescue services, as well as improving warning signage.

Sian Phillips commented on the Facebook page: “I think it's truly amazing that after such tragedy, somebody has set up this page to change a negative to a positive by trying to make the beach and jetty safer.”

But Luke Hendrie wrote: “How can you make a naturally muddy beach and a strong tide safe? There are plenty of signs to warn you, they have life guards, hover crafts and life boats. So the jetty needs to be made safe, it’s for boats and not people to walk on.”

The petition also calls for more activities in the area such as swing-boats and trampolines and a paddling pool so parents can monitor their children.

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council said an investigation into Dylan’s death has been launched by a coroner’s inquest and that it would also consider the points of the petition once it receives it.

He added: “There are many warning signs along the beach, the Esplanade and on the jetty hut. Beach safety leaflets are distributed. Sedgemoor District Council is satisfied all their procedures were followed correctly.”