[09
MAR 01] CITY
CENTRE COMPANY NEWS
City Sound System
Praised After Bomb Scare
The
new public address system in Coventry city centre has been heralded as
"a major help" in dealing with a bomb scare.
An
area of Hertford Street, Market Way and the Barracks car park had to be
evacuated late on Wednesday afternoon when a suspect package was spotted.
It was
the first major incident since the installation of the £20,000 system,
which relays music throughout the central shopping area.
The
speakers were used to tell shoppers to clear the area and then kept people
informed as bomb disposal experts dealt with the suspect item in the car
park.
Roger
Bache of the City Centre Company said:
"The
PA system was designed to improve atmosphere in the area but also deal
with any public safety issues.
"We
used our retail radio link to help the police clear stores and then kept
people informed through the public address speakers.
“The
incident happened late in the working day so people were anxious to know
when they could return to their cars.
"It
is the first time we have employed it in this way and it was a major
help to everyone concerned."
Mr
Bache also praised the Methodist Central Hall, which supplied waiting
motorists with cups of coffee.
"We
contacted the hall and asked if we could buy refreshments, which its
staff then served to around 100 people who were forced to wait for the
car park to re-open.
"It
proved to be a false alarm but it undoubtedly showed that we could help
the police effectively deal with such incidents and everyone co-operated
fully thereby cutting disruption to a minimum."
SEE
[07 MAR 01] BOMB
SCARE SHUTS COVENTRY CITY CENTRE
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