Torbay Council officials said in a letter to Torbay's Chamber of Trade that the trees had sharp leaves which could injure people's eyes or faces.
But the council has denied it was "going health and safety mad"… (BBC Report)
Here is yet more evidence of ‘health and safety’ timidity. Having discovered the potentially lethal dangers posed by palm tree leaves, Torbay council is not even contemplating an outright ban. Nor is it is prepared to face up to the other life-threatening hazards facing unsuspecting visitors to the resort.
First, despite the clear danger of slip-related injuries or of self-induced hypothermia, there are no health notices on ice cream cones. Nor is the ice cream ‘user’ provided with a complete list of its constituents upon purchase. Just as food purveyors are obliged to provide the information that ham sandwiches may contain meat traces, so vanilla ice cream should have a label attached with the advice that it may be unsuitable for people with allergies to vanilla.
Second, there has been absolutely no attempt to address the problem of the large quantities of sand that surround the resort. Moves should be made to immediately set up ‘sand in the eye’ treatment centres on all beaches together with medical personnel trained in the treatment of psychological traumas induced by getting sand in swimsuits. The long term goal should, of course, be the removal of the substance from the beaches. An alternative might be to cover the beaches with a protective layer of concrete or with industrial-grade latex.
As a short-term measure, beach users should be issued with, and required to wear bio-hazard suits. They should also be obliged to sign disclaimers explicitly stating that Torbay Council will not be held liable for sand- or splash-induced injuries.
Finally, signs should be set up on all beaches warning users that if they go in the sea they may die. These signs should be at least 50 feet high and should feature graphic depictions of drowned corpses, bloated body parts and shark-induced injuries.
If Torbay Council shows the courage of its convictions, the resort will be transformed into a healthier, safer and far emptier place.
