A RESCUE exercise by emergency services is due to be held during the week long closure of Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge.

While the lifting bridge is closed to road traffic from Monday March 23 for annual maintenance, a staged “emergency” will involve a fire in one of the main piers.

Residents are likely to hear sirens and see flashing blue lights and smoke, which will be released in a plant room.

“Please do not be alarmed if you witness lots of blue flashing lights on the bridge and smoke drifting from one of the piers,” said John Rice, engineering manager, Borough of Poole.

“The purpose of the exercise is to test our procedures and help the Fire and Rescue Service test their ability to react to a real emergency situation.”

The bridge will be closed to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians from 7am on March 23 and during the closure Poole Bridge will operate as normal with the council expecting minimal disruption to marine traffic.

Work being undertaken includes preventative maintenance, some minor repairs and general cleaning tasks. The high voltage supply will be inspected and safety checked and the hydraulics will receive an annual service.

LEDs, road studs and lamps will be replaced where needed, control systems checked and adjusted and stainless steel cleaned.

“It is important that we keep our lifting bridges operating efficiently and reliably in the long term and this means carrying out annual preventative maintenance in a planned way,” said Mr Rice.

“By closing the Twin Sails Bridge outside of peak times in the year we will be able to minimise disruption to residents who will always have one bridge available.”

The annual closure of the old Poole Bridge will take place in September for up to one week.