Beauty spot faces major 'invasion'

DOVESTONE . . . scene of Operation Triton II

A SADDLEWORTH beauty spot will be the scene of a major "invasion" in a emergency planning exercise next week.

Military helicopters, including a Chinook, will play a key role in the high-level operation codenamed Exercise Triton II which will initially focus on Dovestones Reservoir at Greenfield.

It is the biggest major live exercise of its kind ever held in the North-West region and will test how local authorities, emergency services and other partners are equipped to tackle a major emergency together.

And although details of the huge event are being kept under wraps, the operation involves a flooding scenario at Dovestone backed up later with activity at Hollingworth Lake, near Rochdale.

Emergency

Authorities stress the event on Thursday, July 14 is not linked to terrorism.

They say these exercises are regularly held in the UK to make sure key emergency responders are properly prepared for all kinds of situations.

The focus is for individual organisations testing their own response services, and test how organisations work together.

Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, it is a requirement for councils and emergency services to plan for major incidents.

It will give personnel from the organisations involved the opportunity to put emergency plans into practice on the ground.

The activity will commence with a series beginning on Monday and in around the key areas on July 14, with The Macron Stadium, Bolton, a meeting point for emergency service vehicles.

Authorities say the agencies will work hard to keep disruption to a minimum around the area and it will be business as usual for all local authority and emergency response services doing the exercise.

Participating "players" including military, government, health and utility organisations will join forces. And the multi-agency exercise will include a live response search and rescue play in the Oldham and Rochdale areas on Thursday, July 14.

There will be infrequent air activity around these areas from 10am to 10pm - including the use of military helicopters.

Paul Argyle, chairman of Greater Manchester Resilience Forum, said: "Exercises like this are hugely important to ensure ­- as a region ­- we are prepared to deal with a real-life major event or disaster, should it occur.

"Police, firefighters and paramedics will work side-by-side with around 33 partner agencies including local councils, utility companies, the military and specialist search and rescue teams to respond to the disaster.

"The scale of the scenario will give these organisations a vital opportunity to practise skills and functions rarely used but necessary in the event of a major incident."

And he stressed: "I would like to assure residents across the region it will be business as usual during this exercise.

"I would like to thank all the volunteers taking part. With them on board we will be able to ensure we provide the best support possible for our residents and communities should such incidents occur."

The exercise will bring together Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Transport for Greater Manchester, Highways England, Public Health England, NHS England, armed forces, Environment Agency , North West Ambulance Service, Voluntary Agencies including Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, United Utilities and other utilities firms.

The public car park (off Bank Lane) at Dovestone will be closed on Thursday, July 14. This route will be access-only.

On the same day, at Hollingworth Lake the public car parks (along Hollingworth Road and Lake Bank) will be unavailable the public.