Fatalities on Ryde Sands

Dear Mr Figg

FORMAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION : RYDE SANDS

Further to your request for information, I would respond as follows.

Whilst the council is aware of the fatality of the children in the 1970s,
we do not hold any records or details of this. Can I suggest that you
approach the Coroner's Office as they will hold the information you
require. We do not have any information regarding fatalities which
occurred when people were celebrating the end of the Second World War in
1945.

Regarding your comments that the Council does not take this matter
seriously, I would advise that there are several signs along the Esplanade
advising the public of the sandbanks. The Council has also invested in a
quad bike so that the lifeguards can reach the public quickly in order to
warn them of the incoming tide. The council has taken every reasonable
step within its powers to inform the public of the dangers. The public
also have a duty of care to ensure that they read the signs in place and
are responsible for their actions.

Please contact me again if you require any further assistance on this
matter and I will do my best to provide relevant help and advice.

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Helen Vrba

Departmental Information Guardian

Helen Vrba | Personal Assistant | Leisure Services | Isle of Wight
Council | The Guildhall | Newport | Isle of Wight PO30 1TY

01983-823838 | [2][email address] | [3]www.iwight.com

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F

ormal RFI

Details: Following the recent public consultation on the councils proposed
amendments to the Dog Control Orders I became concerned that the council
was encouraging visitors to the Island to venture into the hazardous
extremities of Ryde Sands, where every year people have to be rescued by
the emergency services due to the fast incoming tide. I informed the
members of the IW councils Cabinet, who ultimately took the final
decision, that such were my concerns that the council were not taking this
matter seriously, I would, in the event of a fatality on the Sands, supply
to the Coroner all the evidence that the council had been warned of these
dangers.

The cabinet ultimately rejected the councils proposals, but during the
course of the wightdogs.com website fighting these proposals Several of
the site members contacted me with information of past fatalities on Ryde
sands. Including three children who drowned trying to escape the incoming
tide in the 1970s, and a number of people who drowned whilst celebrating
the end of the Second World War on the sandbanks off Appley. As I still
have my concerns that the council are not taking this matter seriously, or
taking adequate steps to warn the public of the dangers in this area.

I therefore wish to request details of any and all records the council has
of the number of people who have been killed in this treacherous yet
apparently tranquil area.

I am having to request this information through the whatdotheyknow website
as following the successful campaign to stop the councils proposals, co
ordinated by me through the wightdogs website, I have discovered that all
my emails to the IW councils are immediately returned as I am now
"Blacklisted".

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