Bid to 'Save our sirens' in WN
SAFETY fears about plans to scrap flood warning sirens along the West Norfolk coast will be highlighted at a meeting in Snettisham next week.
Local councillors and emergency volunteers are due to meet emergency planners on Wednesday to discuss their concerns.
A year ago, the Norfolk Resilience Forum, representing the emergency services and emergency planners, announced that the 60-year-old flood sirens were "beyond their sell-by date."
It was felt they should be replaced by a phone-based system backed up by media alerts and, if necessary, police evacuation procedures. Flood wardens voiced fears that losing the sirens would put lives at risk, partly due to patchy mobile phone network coverage in some coastal areas.
Of West Norfolk's 21 sirens, four are in Hunstanton, two in Heacham and one in Snettisham.
In response to concerns, the Forum agreed to put the plans on hold until July while communities, flood wardens and local councils were consulted.
Hunstanton Mayor, Richard Bird, said he and other town council representatives would be attending the meeting. The town council favours retaining the sirens.
He said: "We don't want them to be abandoned. While modern technology is very good and all the flooding precautions are in place, the old-fashioned siren is still very useful and still has a place."
Snettisham Parish Council chairman, Mrs Sybil Melton, and vice-chairman Mr Derek Ebbs, said members very much wanted the sirens to stay.
Heacham Parish Council members are due to meet emergency planning representatives on Tuesday. Clerk Mrs Philippa Sewell, said they would then decide whether to attend the consultation meeting the following evening. Councillors had previously supported retaining an audible warning system.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
