Locals in Woolwich and Charlton have been warned that an emergency services training exercise will take place in Woolwich Barracks next week – but there will be nothing to worry about.
The police, fire and ambulance services will be taking part in the drill alongside Greenwich Council and the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery.
Sergeant Dean Cuomo of the Metropolitan Police said that the excercise, taking place on Wednesday October 11 between 9am and 5pm, was not in response to a specific threat.
The advice to residents came in the form of a letter from the police posted on Twitter/X rather than a message from the council’s communication’s team.
“The exercise will take place within a contained area within the Royal Military Barracks with no risk to the public,” he said.
“There will be increased police, ambulance and fire brigade in this confined area during the exercise and I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Repository Woods, an area of military land off Hillreach, is regularly used for army training exercises. The barracks are set to close by 2028 as part of government defence cuts.
In June 2020, in the height of the first coronavirus lockdown, neighbours were caught unawares by a late-night emergency services exercise in the Morris Walk Estate, which was awaiting demolition, with many woken up by explosions. The council later apologised.