More signs and fences are being put up around the Volk’s railway track after a dog was electrocuted there last month.
Livvie, a golden retriever, died almost instantly after getting on to the track from the beach on Friday 12 January.
It’s believed the track was live because trains were being tested that day.
Brighton and Hove City Council launched an investigation and today said that it was putting in measures to stop it happening gain.
Lead councillor for the environment Tim Rowkins said: “The investigation following the tragic accident that led to the death of the dog has been completed.
“Recommendations have been made to increase signage and erect additional fencing.
“The signage is now in place and the fencing is scheduled to be fitted before the railway reopens at Easter.
“The live rail will be turned on for de-rusting and staff training before the easter opening. The Aquarium end will only be used after the new fencing has been fitted.
“We’re really sorry for the distress this incident has caused to the owners of the dog.”
The incident happened close to the Pier Station.
It is good that changes are being made. There were clear safety issues with the line, particularly at the aquarium end. It is worrying with all the health and safety focus in today’s world that no one spotted the risks. At several points the live rail is accessible – so children or dogs running along the beach could access it. Hopefully, now there will be gates all along the length, not just at the busier pier end. Also, gaps in the fencing closed off
A live rail that can kill poses particular dangers as it doesn’t look unsafe to children, dogs or wildlife. Blocking access to it with fences and gates is an obvious precaution and it’s a worry that there are still gaps. Yes, it has been improved over the years but it would not be allowed from new today without these safety features so it’s concerning that the council and the railway didn’t spot the issues.
Good that the aquarium end of the railway is closed until the safety is improved. Poor that it took the death of a dog to expose the safety issues.
The dog should have been on a leash, the railway has been running for over a 100 years and no one has been electrocuted before.
Maybe if it’s 100 years old it should be updated so it can’t potentially electrocute & kill people??? The dog was weaving in & out of bushes as they often do when on a walk, she is not the only dog owner who lets their dog do this, the fence was flimsy & thin, with no signage nearby, dog was walking alongside her owner who was meters away walking on a popular woodland footpath. She had excellent recall & did not stray far at all. 100% not the owners fault, anyone could have walked past that fence & been killed. That’s an unacceptable level of safety hazard ⚠️
Yeah, or you could look at it through the over side of the lense and wonder why we have to waste thousands of pounds because 1 idiot can’t understand the billy basics of dog ownership.
This is why we have to have packaging that tells you not to lick a battery…
Shocking waste of money and shocking shirking of responsibility
From the owners social media, the council have never contacted her for an account or statement of what happened and have closed the investigation without speaking to her at all following the incident other than to communicate that they do not believe they are at fault. Shocking given that she was also electrocuted. Surely you need the owner’s recollection of events for any investigation?
Obviosuly the dog wasnt on a lead?
Dogs don’t have to be on leads on the beach and from the end of September to the beginning of May they can be on any Brighton beach not just the ones designated ‘dog friendly ‘.
There is no requirement for dogs to be on a lead in this area.
Well obviously there is as someone just had their dog killed from not doing so.
Are you the sort of person that needs a sign at the top of a cliff to say, Cliff, don’t jump! Honestly man.
Let us hope the dogs can read