Residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are being urged to stay safe and travel only if essential today (Friday 18 February) as the highest level of warning – a red warning – has been issued as a result of Storm Eunice.
BCP Council teams are responding to any issues that may affect the area as a result of the severe weather which includes:
- travel disruption on trains, air travel, roads and ferries
- fallen trees
- flying debris
- risk of damage to property
- flooding of coastal areas
- power failures
Chris Saunders, from Incident Command and Director of Destination and Culture at BCP Council said: “The Red Warning issued by the Met Office this morning (Friday 18 February) has now been extended to include the BCP Council area. This is the highest level of weather warning and we urge people to stay at home and not travel unless absolutely necessary.
“Storm Eunice will see wind gusts potentially up to 80mph and the Red Warning covers between 10am and 3pm today. We expect large waves and additional sand build-up along the whole of the seafront area.
“Please therefore avoid the prom, harbour areas and the Sandbanks area of Poole Harbour.
“Our Highways and Parks teams are dealing with whatever the weather brings, whether there’s a need to remove fallen trees, or close roads until hazards can be safely dealt with.
“Please all stay safe, only travel if it is essential.”
As a result of potential disruption, there are a number of changes to BCP Council services today (Friday 18 February) which are listed below:
· Our refuse, recycling and cleansing collections are all suspended today. Collections will resume next week as normal. Please take your bin in from the road and put it somewhere secure or in a sheltered area.
· Recycling Centres are closed.
· Libraries are closed
· BH Live centres currently remaining open
· Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre and Bournemouth Indoor Bowls Centre is closed until at least 4pm.
· Many schools are closed. Keep up to date on school closures by visiting bcpcouncil.gov.uk/schoolclosures. Early years providers are contacting families directly via their own comms routes regarding closures.
· The Twin Sails and Poole Bridge will operate on a revised lifting schedule subject to increasing wind speeds.
· The care and home support service Tricuro is closed.
· Seafront toilets are closed apart from Sandbanks, Bournemouth Pier and Boscombe Overstrand toilets which will be open until 4pm
· Please stay away from the coastline for your safety.
· The Tourist Information Centre and Smugglers Cove Golf on Pier Approach will be closed although the phone lines will remain open
· The Tea Rooms and Gallery at Upton Country Park is closed and due to fallen debris within Steamer Point near Highcliffe Castle, the gates giving access to Steamer Point are in the process of being locked to limit access
· Our Piers are closed
· Boscombe Car Park is closed
· The local Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) has been activated.
Power cuts are anticipated and so residents should try to make sure their phones and other electronic devices are fully charged and they have access to torches.
Our Highway and Parks teams are dealing with whatever the weather brings, whether there’s a need to remove fallen trees, or close roads until hazards can be safely dealt with.
Please use the links below if you do need to report any storm-related incidents:
- BCP Council’s Report It: bcpcouncil.gov.uk/reportit
- Fallen Trees blocking main roads: https://bit.ly/3sGIVhO
· Flooding: https://bit.ly/3GWqElV
· Power cut: https://www.powercut105.com/
· Our tree supervisors will be on duty overnight providing 24-hour cover
· SWEP has been activated please report any rough sleepers by ringing 01202 315962 or email B&Pstreetoutreach@mungos.org.
For the latest news and information on services in the BCP area, visit www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/stormeunice
Or follow BCP Council updates about Storm Eunice on Twitter via twitter.com/BCPCouncil
You can keep up to date with the latest advice and weather warnings from the Met Office.