21/02/2024
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There is understandably a lot of worry about the major incident in Keyham. Here are a few of the questions we've been asked:
❓ What's the current situation?
🗣 The current 200 metre cordon around the major incident on St Michael Avenue, Keyham, remains in place and will remain in place overnight tonight (Wednesday)
Any residents who were provided with temporary accommodation last night can use the Beacon Centre during the day and their accommodation will be rebooked for tonight.
❓ Will the cordon be extended to include more homes?
🗣 We don't know yet - our colleagues from the military are working on plans to make the device safe and we are awaiting their decision on this. Safety must be a priority. We will update as soon as we can.
❓ I can see a lot of maps online and on social media – are they correct?
🗣 At the moment there is a lot of misinformation online – including maps. If the cordon is to be extended, we will publish an accurate map, and a list of the roads that will be fully or partially impacted.
❓ Why can’t you tell us more now?
🗣 We must await the full assessment of those who will be making the device safe about the extent of area that needs to be evacuated while the work takes place. We understand that this is a worrying time for everyone and want to provide accurate information as soon as have it.
❓ If it is extended, how much notice will you give?
🗣 The cordon will not be extended today and we will not be asking more residents to leave their homes tonight. If/when we are given the go ahead by the bomb disposal experts, we hope to be able to give residents at least 12 hours’ notice and carry out the evacuation in daylight. However, residents who were evacuated last night, will not be able to return to their homes today. If you do not have somewhere to stay, please go and speak to the staff at the Beacon Centre. The Beacon Centre will be open until 10pm tonight.
❓ I'm hearing that the Plymouth Life Centre will open as an evacuation centre. Is that right?
🗣 As part of the planning for these measures, a number of options are being considered for locations as a rest centre for those residents to use if needed, including potential use of the Plymouth Life Centre. To ensure the centre is available for use as an evacuation centre if required, customers are being notified that it will not be open from Thursday 22 February. However, the use of the Plymouth Life Centre has not been confirmed yet and the evacuation centre currently in use for those residents displaced from their homes remains the Beacon Centre.
❓ Where can I get more information?
🗣 We completely understand that people are concerned and worried. It's a really stressful time. Please make sure that you are only taking in information from the right sources.
If you are unable to evacuate or you need additional help and support, please call: 01752 668000 (select option 0) This helpline will be available throughout the night.
All of our updates can be be found here: www.plymouth.gov.uk/major-incident-updates
