Avonmouth NR Work "axed as hundreds risked being trapped in chemical emergency"

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Network Rail postpones work in Avonmouth after locals raise access risk issues - https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/train-works-axed-hundreds-risked-2159050

[JayMac]

Well done to the individual who raised the issue. Using the immediacy of social media. Twitter can be a force for good.

Doesn't bear thinking about it there had been an COMAH incident, and residents were trapped on the wrong side of the level crossing.

[Richard Fairhurst]

The Severnside Sirens would be a great name for a band.

[JayMac]

The Severnside Sirens would be a great name for a band.

When I moved to Lawrence Weston from central Bristol in 2006, nobody warned me about the sirens' existence or their monthly test. Having a siesta one afternoon, not long after moving in (they're tested at 3pm on the 3rd of each month), I was somewhat scared and bewildered when awoken by the test. I thought it was the end of days!

Never really got used to them. Scare the bejeebus out of you if you happen to be walking by one as it goes off. I always seemed to be either dozing or walking past the Lawrence Weston one at 3pm on the 3rd.

Now, the sirens are to warn of serious industrial incidents on the Avonmouth industrial area. At least that's what the powers that be want you to believe. One resident of Portishead recently shared the truth though:

"Don't panic when you hear loud sirens at 3pm tomorrow.

"As long as you take the right precautions beforehand, you'll be fine.

"See, every month, at 3pm on the third day, an alien spaceship lands in an unused building somewhere in Avonmouth Docks, its evil crew proceeding to violently kidnap people within a few miles' radius before disappearing back to their faraway galaxy.

"Obviously we don't know exact numbers, as nobody's ever returned. That notwithstanding, an educated guesstimate is that the bloodthirsty demons are not satisfied until they've captured around 250 everyday people like you and me. Like your parents, like your children. However, we are confident that they only snatch people carelessly wandering outdoors...

"...so, as long as tomorrow - and on every third day of every month - you lock yourselves in, you should be just about fine. And don't look out of your windows. Never. Look out. Of your windows. At 3pm. On the third day. Never. Ever. Ever.

[Lee]

Footage just in from Diamond Back Road, Avonmouth...

[TaplowGreen]

The Severnside Sirens would be a great name for a band.

Wouldn't be popular with the Navy.

[stuving]

I was wondering only yesterday if I'd missed our sirens being tested, or if they had finally been decommissioned. Since the tests were at 10 am every Monday, you did at least get used to them quickly. When I moved to Wokingham I had no idea what they were for until I asked the neighbours; there was nothing about them from the council. There still isn't anything explaining when they will actually go; you can  search for meeting minutes but they are all out of date.

So why does/did Wokingham have sirens? The Broadmoor esacape warning system, put in in the 50s after an escaped patient killed a child.  I remember the press reports for a few years back about plans to remove them when the new Broadmoor hospital (and wall) were built, but haven't seen any more recent news. The trust that runs the hospital (West London NHS Trust, for no obvious reason) is not much better at providing up-to-date information, and the local schools still have published emergency procedures based on the sirens still operating. We (collectively) aren't very good at routinely checking our websites to see what needs updating, are we?

And yes, there is a local band called the Broadmoor Sirens - a lot edgier than Severnside; I have no idea if that's what they are like.

[johnneyw]

The Severnside Sirens would be a great name for a band.

I would offer my services on lead triangle! 😀

[Red Squirrel]

I've tried playing a lead triangle - made a very unsatisfying 'thunk' noise...

[johnneyw]

I've tried playing a lead triangle - made a very unsatisfying 'thunk' noise...

Had to think about that one of half a mo.