Portland residents to receive emergency planning exercise letter this week (From Dorset Echo)

Portland residents to receive emergency planning exercise letter this week

12:30pm Monday 4th March 2013 in News

RESIDENTS living near Portland Port will receive a letter this week informing them of an emergency planning exercise.

Local and national agencies will be testing how they would respond to an incident involving a nuclear-powered submarine berthed at the port on April 10.

Portland Port is one of a number in the UK authorised to accommodate nuclear vessels for the Royal Navy, although visits are rare.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s spokesman for community safety Geoff Petherick said: “The letter reassures people that the April 10 exercise is just a test and they do not need to be concerned.

“On April 10 people may see some emergency vehicles plus Ministry of Defence and Maritime and Coastguard Agency staff walking around the area.

“There is no need to be alarmed.

“This will be just an exercise to check that we are fully prepared in the highly-unlikely event of an incident.”

The letter will be accompanied by a booklet outlining what those living around Portland Port would be asked to do in the event of a real emergency involved a nuclear vessel.

The booklet can be downloaded at dorset foryou.com/planandbooklet with copies also available from libraries or from 01305 224659.