Concerns Rise Over Potential Closure of Both Bridges to Anglesey
Questions are being raised about the impact of both bridges to Anglesey shutting down simultaneously
Anglesey, Britannia Bridge, Menai Suspension Bridge, Emergency Planning, Dylan Williams
Anglesey: There’s been a lot of chatter lately about what would happen if both bridges to Anglesey were to close at the same time. It turns out, there’s been some serious scrutiny on this issue. The council found out that while they had plans for when each bridge closed individually, there was nothing in place for a simultaneous shutdown.
But don’t worry too much just yet. They’re working on updating those plans. During a recent meeting, they mentioned that they’re making progress and should have a new plan ready soon. Some concerns were raised about how to get emergency vehicles across and what to do with all the trucks if the bridges were to close, especially after the chaos seen during the Holyhead Port closure.
Remember when the Menai Bridge was shut for four months back in October 2022? That was a big deal. The council’s chief executive, Dylan Williams, has been pushing for more focus on this issue, asking for help from various agencies. They’re trying to make sure they’re better prepared this time around.
The North Wales Council is responsible for emergency planning, and they’ve been working with local authorities to get things sorted. They’ve been reviewing their old plans and figuring out what needs to change. It’s a bit of a task, but they’re on it.
One of the council’s emergency planning officers, Jon Zalot, mentioned that they’ve been meeting with different agencies to tackle this issue. He pointed out that while they have plans for each bridge, they need to figure out what happens if both are closed. It’s a tricky situation, but they’re hopeful that the new plan will be effective.
There’s also a group looking into how to manage the lorry situation if both bridges were to close. Options are limited, and they’re still brainstorming solutions. Dylan Williams noted that while they’ve made progress, there’s still a lot of work to do to ensure everything runs smoothly in case of an emergency.
In the end, it’s all about being prepared. They’ve come a long way in their planning, but there’s still more to tackle. Fingers crossed they get everything sorted out soon!