A stack of flares – some in a potentially dangerous state – were discovered in Newport last night (Wednesday) after a Coastguard search was launched.
A number of individuals reported seeing red flares in the vicinity of Newport and Cowes at around 20:45.
The sighting of the flares – an international sign of distress – prompted both Ventnor Coastguard Rescue Team and the mainland-based Hill Head Coastguard Rescue Team to be mobilised at 21:18.
Ventnor CRT were tasked to the area of the River Medina and it didn’t take long to find the source of the alert.
A number of flares, both fired and not fired, were found in a field at Seaclose Park in the eastern side of the river.
With almost certain confirmation of no persons in danger at sea, the search was called off and Police informed of the discovery.
Coastguards have said that some of the flares were in excess of 25 years old, potentially making them a safety hazard.
The incident was handed over to the Police, who are understood to have informed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team at Portsmouth.
Seaclose Park remained cordoned off overnight.
HM Coastguard are warning that it is an offence to discharge a flare on land.
Best call the bomb disposal unit in from the mainland like last time in freshwater
What a costly fuss. Where are all the real men of old, who would have put them in a bin bag, and buried them in clay at Lyn bottom tip.
No wonder our stealth taxes are so high, this is one tiny example of the huge daily cost of OTT health and safety. For the millions it saves in pounds the cost in billions is growing yearly as it gets evermore OTT.
How come the SPIIOW (crisis intervention) team where there at the same time?
Spi noticed the flares and responded in case someone was in crisis and it was spi who called the coastguard and police and kept members of the public safe until other agencies arrived.
Another example of unintended consequences of withdrawing or charging for services that were previously free (such as the increase in fly tipping due to charging for disposal of commercial waste.)
One used to be able to dispose of out of date flares for free via a variety of means, including via police stations.
As I understand it, the only way for Islanders to now dispose of them for free involves convincing the Marine Coastguard Agency on the mainland 020 381 72630 that you are not allowed to personally convey them to their collection points over there (ferry and postal rules do not allow them to be carried). The MCA then has to arrange with Newport police station for a maximum of 10 of them to be accepted there. Details can be found on the Cowes Harbour Commission website.
Hi Ivor – just a note (i hope I’m on the right path here – I’m sorry if I’m not and got the wrong end of the stick) I have spoken to SPIIOW this afternoon – there is no cost to the Isle of Wight Public for their service nor does it cost the tax payer any money – it does however cost them money to operate and be out in the community.
yes – it cannot be right that dangerous 1970’s flares are left in public – those hideous items of clothing were worthy of a prison sentence.