Emergency Planning in Southend

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, joined partner councils, the emergency services and QintetiQ, for a new initiative for people living near the test and evaluation range at Shoeburyness and Foulness.

QinetiQ, which operates the range on behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is launching a new information service for residents in the local area. The new service forms part of QinetiQ's routine incident planning process and will keep local people informed about what is happening on the site that may affect them.

QinetiQ's Head of Site at MOD Shoeburyness, Chris Bennett said; "It's business as usual for the range, we are not changing the type of work we do, but we are improving the way we communicate with people in the local area about what we do here and how it could potentially affect them, no matter how remote the possibility. We take safety on the site very seriously and our performance is regularly inspected and monitored by the competent authorities to make sure that working practices and facilities meet with the required standards."

The new Shoeburyness Emergency Alert Service is a joint initiative between QinetiQ, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Rochford District Council, Essex County Council and the principal emergency services and complies with best practice outlined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) regulations.

The organisations have worked together to make sure that they can respond to an incident and keep local people informed about how it may affect them. Only a small number of households actually fall within the 'Public Information Zone', as defined by the HSE. However, all of the partners in this initiative were keen to give people living or working close to the site access to the new information service.

Local people will receive a letter and leaflet which explain the new service, the type of work that goes on at MOD Shoeburyness and details about how to sign up to the Shoeburyness Emergency Alert Service, a free service that will alert and update individuals quickly and directly should an incident occur.

For further information about the Shoeburyness Emergency Alert Service, contact the Shoeburyness Careline on 0800 0560108 or visit www.vocal.co.uk/qinetiq.