Warning sirens are a thing of the past
Wednesday 26th May 2010, 1:00PM BST.
Blake Norris, left, and Andy Newman removing the early-warning siren from States Works at La Hure Mare, North Side. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0975887)
ALL public warning sirens bar one will be taken down within a month.
The Home Department is now acting on a decision made early this year, despite a Facebook campaign with 900 members and a petition to save them.
The department said the sirens were no longer fit for purpose and would be too costly to maintain.
Aimee Gillott, who organised a protest march to save the early warning system, said she was sorry to see it now being dismantled.
‘We had 200 people sign our petition and 30 people who came to the march. We were disappointed when we received a letter from the Home Department which said that they had acknowledged the 30 signatures on the petition – but we actually had 200.’
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Are the measures in place in case of emergency then with regard to text messages etc? God forbid you leave your phone at home…
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The siren in the photo looks in pretty good nick.
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Why should the States change their policy decisions based on a 200 signature petition (0.3% of the population) or a Facebook group that people will often join just because they’ve been invited? Hardly a public outcry of Suez proportions.
We’ve got far more important things to think about than this. Job done – move on.
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Anyone looking to attack Guernsey now is the time our “smart” state members have taken down the only warning sound to warn us we are in danger. I do hear they might be setting up a island text if something does happen so as long as you attack at night when we are all in bed you should be ok. I love how on new year eve someone messages you and you get it 3 days letter due to over load. If we are attacked by that time we would all be dead. Bye nanny and grandad who cant use texts you fought for this Island now that same Island is going to let you die. Hey states members have you thought about homing pigeons?? That was a joke oh dear i shouldnt of said anything it will be on there next states meeting list!
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buttonz – could you please answer 3 simple questions?:
1. what sort of attack are you thinking of?
2. what sort of attack is likely to be announced to the authorities before it happens, so that an early warning system is of any use at all?
3. how would you know what to do if you heard the sirens?
we are no longer realistically going to be bombed from the air by enemy forces or invaded by vikings.
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Someone ought to tell the States about the Huddersfield chemical factory explosion a few days ago. Despite toxic chemicals being released into the atmosphere and local water courses, there was actually no proper delivery of this news, nor the advice to stay indoors with windows closed etc. Given our proximity to Cap de la Hague (and the fact that there was an incident there a few years ago), can the states guarantee that they WILL be able to contact everyone succesfully???
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2010/05/25/residents-tell-of-homes-shaking-in-linthwaite-grosvenor-chemicals-explosion-86081-26513061/
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I see they`re gonna keep one siren. Are they gonna use it to warn the islanders that the States are in session?
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ITS A VERY SAD DAY , IT JUST WONT BE THE SAME NOT HEARING THEM , THAY SEND A SHIVVER DOWN MY SPINE AND MAKE ME STOP AND THINK OF WHAT THE OLDER ISLANDERS WENT THROUGH FOR OUR FREEDOM , NEVER MIND THE STATES ARE OUR NEW MASTERS NOW .WERE JUST TO PIG HEADED TO SEE IT!!!!!!!!
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