SWANAGE’S beaches are “open for business” insists Purbeck District Council chief Steve Mackenzie.

Following the recent landslips to the north of Ocean Bay, a number of Purbeck agencies have issued a joint newsletter for businesses and residents close to Swanage’s North Beach.

This leaflet, encouraging people to “continue enjoying” the beach, has been released amid growing concerns the recent landslips could affect the town’s looming tourist season.

Torrential rain throughout December caused parts of the cliffs to become unstable and a number of landslips caused debris to crash down onto the sea wall and beach.

The following month, major slips between Burlington Chine and Sheps Hollow compounded the problem, forcing authorities to cordon off sections of the popular sands.

Swanage Beach plays a vital role in attracting tourists to the town.

So district council chief executive Mr Mackenzie message is a simple one: “Swanage beaches are open for business and people are encouraged to continue enjoying them”

But the council boss, who worked with the Environment Agency, Swanage Town Council, Dorset county Council and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the newsletter, said beach-goers need to remain vigilant.

“The continued rain means that the cliffs are still much wetter than usual so some hazard remains,” he stressed. “Use your common sense while enjoying the beach and avoid the landslips and mudflows.

“Remember that a rising tide can trap you between mudflows that you might be able to avoid when the tide is out.

“And this doesn’t just apply to Swanage. Whichever beach you are visiting in Purbeck, please take care, keep away from landslips and use you common sense.”

Swanage coastguard station officer Ian Brown said he understood businesses, residents and visitors concerns about the impact of the landslips on the tourist season.

He added: “The organisations involved are exploring whether a technical assessment of the cliffs can be made by experts to establish whether any clean-up can be undertaken safely without causing undue risk of further landslips.

“More information will be made available soon.”