A RANGE of new safety signs will be added to the seafront after recommendations made by the RNLI.

BCP Council requested an audit from the sea safety charity, which was submitted to the authority in February 2023, with a range of recommendations to improve safety along the conurbation’s beaches.

The report’s key headline was to update and increase signage at key points on the beach.

Work has already been done by the authority to install more than 100 pieces of rescue equipment along the seafront.

Now, the council has applied to place these signs at locations across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

Proposed signs include warnings of rip currents, motorboats and windsurfers, guidance for swimming and lifeguards, as well as resort information.

Planning applications have been lodged on all three towns’ planning portals, with no date set at this stage for a decision.

The council said safety improvement works is expected to be completed before the summer.

Amanda Barrie, BCP Council’s director of commercial operations, said: “Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council work closely with the RNLI to continually assess our operating procedures, the daily risk and evolving environment of our beaches.

“In order to build on and improve the existing provision of beach safety signage across BCP’s seafront we asked the RNLI to undertake a thorough audit of signs and public rescue equipment (PRE).

“The audit was submitted to us in February 2023 and covered hundreds of pieces of equipment and signage either already in situ, or that were recommended to be added.

“The audit’s key headline was a recommendation to update and increase signage at key access points and prominent positions, in order to;

  • Increase public awareness of seafront risks which vary according to location
  • Equip visitors with local information so they can make informed decisions about their own safety
  • Provide maps to help public better understand the immediate area around them and further underline risks
  • Provide clear location identification, which could be crucial in case of an emergency

“Following the report, several PRE housings and life rings were immediately replaced on Bournemouth Pier and work started to provide new and improved signage.

“We have also begun to install over 100 pieces of new PRE equipment including replacing every single life ring or throwbag across our seafront.

“This work is happening across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole’s seafront, and we expect the final phase of all the improvements being made to be concluded before the summer this year.”

Shortly after the audit was submitted to the council, in May, 17-year-old Joe Abbess, from Southampton and 12-year-old Sunnah Khan, from High Wycombe, tragically died after drowning in the water close to the pier.

Most recently, the council confirmed that boat operations from the pier would remain suspended until the coroner’s inquest ends, believed to be in October.