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From the Wezzy Gezzy yesterday:
A LIFE-saving siren that warns of a lethal tide along a perilous stretch of South Lakeland coastline will remain out of action for weeks after being reported broken - and has been replaced by an aerosol klaxon horn.
Now residents of Arnside fear that the temporary tidal warning system could have serious consequences for people strolling on the treacherous Morecambe Bay sands as it has proved unreliable, reports Andrew Daniels.
Warning sirens are normally sounded twice across the Bay shoreline to get people off the beach before the tide races in.
Operator Brian Stoney can be spotted outside the coastguard office wearing a set of headphones, horn in one hand and binoculars in the other, to warn of the lethal incoming tide.
But Arnside Coastguard George Crossman branded the solution as 'ludicrous' and said something should have been done to fix the siren earlier.
"The man is blowing the air horn and I'm struggling to hear it in the office ten yards away," he said.
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Operator Mr Stoney, who volunteered to sound the siren for South Lakeland District Council, said the system had a few teething problems.
"These horns aren't the best. One would only sound four times then I had to get another from the box," he said.
SLDC's head of neighbourhood services Lawrence Conway confirmed that the siren had packed in due to its age and that a replacement could take eight to ten weeks to arrive costing around £8,000.
"It's a temporary measure while we get a long-term permanent solution and we would ask the coastguard for their utmost co-operation while a new siren is being installed," he said.
Be aware if you intend fishing Arnside in the near future. Do not rely on the siren to warn you of the turning tide or the bore
A LIFE-saving siren that warns of a lethal tide along a perilous stretch of South Lakeland coastline will remain out of action for weeks after being reported broken - and has been replaced by an aerosol klaxon horn.
Now residents of Arnside fear that the temporary tidal warning system could have serious consequences for people strolling on the treacherous Morecambe Bay sands as it has proved unreliable, reports Andrew Daniels.
Warning sirens are normally sounded twice across the Bay shoreline to get people off the beach before the tide races in.
Operator Brian Stoney can be spotted outside the coastguard office wearing a set of headphones, horn in one hand and binoculars in the other, to warn of the lethal incoming tide.
But Arnside Coastguard George Crossman branded the solution as 'ludicrous' and said something should have been done to fix the siren earlier.
"The man is blowing the air horn and I'm struggling to hear it in the office ten yards away," he said.
advertisement
Operator Mr Stoney, who volunteered to sound the siren for South Lakeland District Council, said the system had a few teething problems.
"These horns aren't the best. One would only sound four times then I had to get another from the box," he said.
SLDC's head of neighbourhood services Lawrence Conway confirmed that the siren had packed in due to its age and that a replacement could take eight to ten weeks to arrive costing around £8,000.
"It's a temporary measure while we get a long-term permanent solution and we would ask the coastguard for their utmost co-operation while a new siren is being installed," he said.
Be aware if you intend fishing Arnside in the near future. Do not rely on the siren to warn you of the turning tide or the bore