We're conducting a routine exercise this evening (Tuesday 10 September) to test emergency procedures at our Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) site in Sandwick Road, Stornoway.
We'll be working closely with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to test our combined emergency response during a major incident.
From 6pm until approximately 9.45pm this evening, the organisations will play out a live incident scenario at the site. A combined and co-ordinated emergency response following a staged road traffic collision involving one of our tankers inside the confines of the site will be tested.
During this time, we need to close Sandwick Road between its junctions with Island Road and Seaforth Road to motorists for safety. Access will be maintained to adjacent properties, but all other vehicles will be diverted via Seaforth Road, including the Point to Stornoway bus service. Sandwick Road will reopen at the conclusion of the exercise.
People living or working near the site may be familiar with our routine tests. Tonight’s exercise will test different procedures and we’re not planning to activate the site’s audible warning siren during this particular test. This siren is used to warn the community of any potential incidents.
Exercises like this help keep us fully prepared for major incidents and help to identify our collaborative roles and responsibilities. They also highlight improvements we can make, together with our partner emergency services, to manage incidents in the safest and most secure way possible.