SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Police and the other emergency services across West Yorkshire will be conducting a large scale training exercise this weekend in Leeds.The training operation will take place in the heart of the city centre from 9am through to 2pm on Sunday 18 March.It forms part of national series of exercises aimed at ensuring cities across the UK are prepared in the event of an incident involving a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) element.Alongside the three emergency services, Leeds City Council will be taking part in the multi-agency exercise, which is based around the process of decontaminating people affected by such an incident and their subsequent care and support in a survivor reception centre.The exercise is not a planned response to any specific threat but is one of a number of other similar exercises that have taken place across the country to ensure that major cities like Leeds are thoroughly prepared for a range of major emergencies and disasters should the worst case scenario ever occur.In order to facilitate the exercise a small number of road closures will be necessary to accommodate emergency service resources and those playing members of the public as part of the exercise. The closures will only affect road users; pedestrian access will be maintained via footpaths.The road closures are as follows:The Headrow (eastbound only) from Oxford Place to Calverley StreetThe Headrow (both directions) from Calverley Street to Cookridge StreetCookridge Street from The Headrow to Great George Street (egress from the Light car park will be maintained)Access to the loop road will be maintained throughout.Closures will be in place from 6am on Sunday and are expected to re-open throughout the afternoon period.Cookridge Street parking bay suspensions will commence throughout Saturday 17 March to ensure no public vehicles are left parked on the site of the exercise on Sunday morning.Emergency service vehicles and resources will be accommodated on the closed off areas of the Headrow, Victoria Gardens and Cookridge Street.Public access will not be permitted to these areas during the period of the exercise. West Yorkshire Police will have officers stationed at various locations around the site to advise the public.Chief Superintendent Christopher Hardern, from West Yorkshire Police, said: "Training exercises like this provide a valuable opportunity for the emergency services and other agencies across West Yorkshire to refine our ability to deal with a major incident."I understand that it may be concerning to see a large number of emergency services vehicles in the centre of Leeds but I want to reassure people this exercise is not in response to any perceived threat but is about making sure the city is best prepared for any type emergency."

Many thanks for taking the time to post this Jane.    

seems like a good idea but god forbid there is a incedent in leeds wouldnt it be better to do the exercise with no roads closed that way the emergency sevices would be better prepared would they expected a incedent to happen on a sunday with all these roads closed. still a good idea    

As this Sunday is also Mother's Day it could be a fun outing to take the unsuspecting Mother in Law you don't get on with to see lots of blood stained bodies everywhere! Would her never speaking to you again be any loss?

cnosni wrote: Many thanks for taking the time to post this Jane.     You're welcome. Only saw it when looking on police news. Haven't seen it posted elsewhere, quite surprised as it looks like quite a big thing.

Thanks for the tipoff, having been involved in similar exercises in the past I will make sure my phone stays with me.There is a possibility one of the organisations I am involved with may get called in on this one to set up emergency communications links.

jane666 wrote: cnosni wrote: Many thanks for taking the time to post this Jane.     You're welcome. Only saw it when looking on police news. Haven't seen it posted elsewhere, quite surprised as it looks like quite a big thing. In todays Yorkshire Morning Post,tucked well away.

Thanks for the heads-up Jane.It's probably also worth mentioning that part of The Loop will also be closed from 7am - 7pm on Sunday 18th - the section of The Calls from High Court through to Call Lane.There have been a couple of yellow signs cunningly placed on there during this week advising of this but they've probably been missed by most people. I suspect it's to do with repairing the appalling road surface there rather than the emergency exercise, but a lot of traffic is going to find itself diverted up Kirkgate and round the Corn Exchange.