Severnside Siren locations
The Victoria Road siren in Avonmouth , a Federal Signal Modulator
The Severnside Sirens are a system of Civil defense sirens located along the South Severn Estuary coastline from Redcliffe Bay to Pilning , northwest of Bristol . They are activated by Avon and Somerset Police [ 1] in the event of a potential incident at one of the COMAH sites located in the area, mainly in and near Avonmouth .[ 2] The system was setup in 1997 following a fire[ 3] at the Albright and Wilson site in 1996.[ 4]
Severnside Sirens Trust
Severnside Sirens Trust Limited is the organisation responsible for maintaining the system. It is a registered company (number 3348008) and charity (number 1063224)[ 5] and was incorporated on 9 April 1997.[ 6] The trust's activities are funded by the 3 local authorities whose constituents the sirens serve, North Somerset Council , Bristol City Council , and South Gloucestershire Council , and from donations from the organisations running the COMAH sites themselves.
Sirens
The directional siren in Lamplighters Marsh , Shirehampton . The antenna used to receive control signals is clearly visible.
The sirens themselves are mounted on dedicated poles and all but one[citation needed ] are manufactured by the Federal Signal Corporation . Most of them are Federal Signal Modulators . They are operated via radio signal from a control system at Avon and Somerset Police Headquarters in Portishead .
Severnside Sirens, as of Jan 2022[ 7]
Designation
Location
Coordinates
Comment
Siren 1 "Bristol Water"
Shirehampton - in Lamplighters Marsh .
51°29′04″N 2°41′03″W / 51.484522°N 2.684222°W / 51.484522; -2.684222
This siren is directional, with loudspeaker cones pointed across the river to Pill and towards Shirehampton proper.
Siren 2 "Ridingleaze Clinic"
Lawrence Weston - behind the Bristol City Children and Young People's Services building
51°30′03″N 2°39′32″W / 51.500824°N 2.658872°W / 51.500824; -2.658872
Siren 3 "Portishead Fire Station"
Portishead Fire Station car park
51°29′11″N 2°46′06″W / 51.486291°N 2.768267°W / 51.486291; -2.768267
Siren 4 "Bristol Port Company - Police Station"
Royal Portbury Dock next to the Port of Bristol Police Station
51°29′23″N 2°43′12″W / 51.489605°N 2.720074°W / 51.489605; -2.720074
Siren 5 "Bristol Port Company - West Town Gate"
Avonmouth , at the end of Victoria Road
51°29′44″N 2°41′39″W / 51.495548°N 2.694250°W / 51.495548; -2.694250
Siren 6 "Bristol Port Company - X Berth"
Royal Edward Dock - opposite St Andrews Road railway station
1°30′45″N 2°41′52″W / 1.512590°N 2.697728°W / 1.512590; -2.697728
Siren 7 "Former Sevalco Site, Chittening Road"
Chittening , towards the north end of Chittening Road
51°31′55″N 2°40′24″W / 51.531813°N 2.673405°W / 51.531813; -2.673405
Located across the road from the site of the former Sevalco carbon black factory.
Siren 8 Govier Way (Royal Mail SWDC)
Outside Royal Mail South West Distribution Centre on Govier Way
51°33′04″N 2°39′05″W / 51.551094°N 2.651395°W / 51.551094; -2.651395
Siren 9 "BT Exchange, Pilning"
Pilning - by the telephone exchange building behind the Pilning Surgery
51°33′51″N 2°38′29″W / 51.564183°N 2.641430°W / 51.564183; -2.641430
Siren 10 "Hallen"
Hallen , In the vicinity of the Hallen Fuel Depot between the village and Henbury
51°30′52″N 2°38′08″W / 51.514390°N 2.635454°W / 51.514390; -2.635454
Added to the system in 2013.[ 8]
Siren 11 "Redcliffe Bay"
Redcliffe Bay , on the Arqiva transmitting mast
51°28′20″N 2°48′31″W / 51.472287°N 2.808737°W / 51.472287; -2.808737
This siren is directional. Added to the system in 2006 as a klaxon, replaced with a Federal Signal in 2019.
Siren 12 "Redcliffe Bay"
Redcliffe Bay
51°28′30″N 2°48′44″W / 51.474966°N 2.812173°W / 51.474966; -2.812173
This siren is directional. Added to the system in 2006. Made by Klaxon, running on Federal Signal controller.
Testing
The sirens are tested at 1500 on the 3rd of every month. The test comprises the following:[ 9]
3 minutes of the alert warning (a continuous, stepped, rising tone)
1 minute of silence
1 minute of the all clear siren (a continuous constant tone)
Local volunteers monitor the sirens on test day.[ 10]
References
External links