What A Dog Awful Day

A public liability case has set tails wagging amongst the pooch population, after a golden retriever had to have emergency treatment from being covered in toxic anti-vandal paint on St Annes beach.

Alan Grundy was walking his pet dog, Charlie, close to where Brian Newman, a developer, had demolished a sand dune and built a new one further back.

In an attempt to stop people climbing on the newly created dune, to reduce public personal injury, Mr Newman had coated the wire surrounding it with anti-vandal paint. But as Charlie, who is also a show dog, walked past the dune, his legs were covered in the paint.

Mr Grundy, a retired civial servant, who lives in Layton, said: "Charlie was just doing what dogs do and investigating, but when he came back, he was smeared with black toxic paint. My wife was distraught and didn't know what to do, we had to go straight to the vets."

The couple were told Charlie would have to have his leg shaved as the paint could be fatal if ingested.

Mr Grundy also said: "I had no choice but to have Charlie's leg shaved. There was also a section of rope at the top of the new dune covered in the paint."

Lack of awareness

Commenting on the lack of public awareness concerning the matter, Mr Grundy said: "There is a small sign warning of the vandal paint there, but this cannot be seen by people walking on the beach. We walk there a lot, and it shouldn't be allowed, and poses a danger for children who play near the dune, on the public beach."

After complaining to Fylde Council about the anti-vandal paint, Mr Grundy has been told there is nothing the authority can do as the land belongs to Mr Newman.

A spokesman for the council said: "As the section of the beach opposite Mr Newman's house is private property there is nothing we can do about it, despite the fact it is in a public area.

"However we have advised Mr Newman that it is in a public place, and can be accessed easily by the public. We have also told Mrs Grundy that she could pursue legal proceedings for owner's liability."

The need for public liability

Phil Grace, a liability risk manager stated that risk assessment is the key to ensure public safety, and land owners.

He said: "Should conduct a risk assessment in the first instance, which will highlight any potential risks that need to be managed."

He added: "This does not have to be an arduous task. It simply involves looking at what needs to be done and working out the safest way to complete the job."

David Head from the HSE concluded that such cover is vital for any land owners: "The financial cost can be huge while the personal price in pain and inconvenience cannot be under-estimated. We want to raise awareness of how these incidents can happen and how they can be easily avoided by taking common sense actions and precautions at no or little cost."

Beach injuries

It is hardly surprising that Mr Newman developed tactics to stop people from injuring themsleves on the newly built sand dune.
In 2000, 58 people died on beaches and the majority of accidents linked to spinal injuries due to falling over sand dunes.

If you or someone close to you has been injured in an accident? Speak to an injury lawyer about making a personal injury claim.