Parts replaced after warning sirens keep going
SIRENS installed to warn the public of chemical incidents at Avonmouth keep getting stuck on – due to a fault with the system.
The sirens, run by the Severnside Siren Trust, were installed in 1997 following a fire at the Albright and Wilson site at the docks in 1996.
The sirens run along the south of the Severn Estuary from Redcliffe Bay to Pilning and in an emergency, are activated by police.
They can be heard across Portishead, Pill, Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Pilning and Severn Beach.
The sirens are tested on the third day of every month at 3pm and over the years their sound has become a normal part of everyday life in the area.
But in recent months the sirens have continually sounded – causing confusion for some local residents.
The first issue was in March during the monthly test when the siren did not switch off automatically.
The same problem happened this month.
The issue has been caused due to problems with the siren at Redcliffe Bay in Portishead which has recently been upgraded.
Repairs have now been carried out to the siren and it is hoped it will once again switch off automatically after the monthly test in June.
A spokesman for the Severnside Sirens Trust said: “The sirens are tested on a monthly basis at 3pm on the 3rd of the month.
“This is the only opportunity we have to audibly test the system.
“The siren at Redcliffe Bay, Portishead, is a new installation in February this year replacing the old siren system on the site and upgrading to a one-manufacturer system.
“In March the siren system was audibly tested and did not automatically switch off.
“In April, the siren sounded and automatically switched off correctly.
“In May, the siren sounded and again did not automatically switch off.
“On each occasion, our engineer was on site and on each occasion the siren did sound.
“Our engineer, supported by our maintenance company, have already replaced components which could have been the reason for the siren not automatically switching off.
“However, a full electronic diagnostics testing will now be undertaken by a specialist siren company to find the exact cause of the issue ahead of the next test day on June 3 at 3pm.”
The siren system is run by a charitable trust which is responsible for the maintenance of the system.
The spokesman added: “The system is in first class condition with ongoing maintenance undertaken by our maintenance company.
“Inaudible tests are undertaken regularly but June 3 at 3pm is the only time we can sound the system to check everything is in order to ensure the system works if required.
“We have demonstrated the siren at Redcliffe Bay is fully operational but we now need to make sure it does not continue to sound beyond the testing time.”
If an incident occurs the sirens will sound intermittently with a rising continuous note for as long as the hazard persists. Once the incident is dealt with and the area deemed safe, an ‘all clear’ tone – a continuous note – will sound.
In order to regulate the use of dangerous substances, the UK Government created the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations. The COMAH regulations apply to any establishment storing or handling large quantities of chemicals of a hazardous nature.