Hundreds of homes in Falmouth are set to be evacuated after an unexploded World War Two bomb was discovered near the town's docks. The wartime device was found in the water near Falmouth Docks in Cornwall, prompting a major operation involving police, the council and military bomb disposal experts.
Cordon reduced after military assessment
A 300-metre cordon currently surrounds the device, but it is expected to expand to approximately 755 metres on Wednesday morning. Officials had initially announced plans for a much larger 1,400-metre cordon, potentially affecting around 1,309 households, but this was later scaled back following a new assessment by military specialists.
The revised area incorporates an estimated 339 households, which will be evacuated on Wednesday morning. Residents within the cordon are being strongly urged to leave their homes by 9am on Wednesday, September 23.
Support and rail suspensions
Cornwall Council is preparing reception centres for anyone who has nowhere else to spend the day and is providing support for people who need help leaving their homes. Great Western Railway has also suspended rail services between Falmouth Town and Falmouth Docks from 8.45am on Wednesday, with no replacement bus service available.
Superintendent Ian Thompson, policing Commander for West Cornwall, said: “Based on the latest expert analysis by military specialists, we are now looking at the cordon parameters being reduced to approximately 755 metres.”
“This area incorporates an estimated 339 households which will be evacuated tomorrow morning (Wednesday 23 September). If you live within the cordon area, you are strongly urged to leave your home by 9am tomorrow,” he added.
Resident safety priority
“This is in order for the unexploded wartime bomb near Falmouth Docks to be dealt with safely,” Thompson said. “The size of the cordon is determined by advice from military bomb disposal experts. An evacuation of this area is essential so these specialists can proceed safely with the next stage of their work.”
“Police, with support from our partner agencies, will be in the area to speak directly with affected residents and ensure they have the support they need,” he said.
Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for Community Safety and Public Health, Cllr Thalia Marrington, said: “While we are of course pleased that the cordon has been reduced in size following a new assessment by army disposal experts, we still need people living within the cordon to follow the police guidance and evacuate the area on Wednesday morning.”
“Our priority as always is resident safety, and I’d like to thank the emergency services and other partner agencies for putting plans together at such short notice in difficult circumstances,” she added.
