Wednesday, 4.10pm - FLOOD warning sirens in Skegness and elsewhere on the Lincolnshire Coast are to be scrapped.
The sirens date back to the last war when their original purpose was to warn of imminent enemy air attack.
Although adapted for their new use, they were proving to be an annual £47,000-plus burden on the county council budget.
Its executive has therefore decided to decommission them - at a one-off cost of £76,000 - in favour of supporting the Environment Agency's strategy of alerting those living in flood-risk zones by telephone or text message.
There are 14 sirens between Skegness and Anderby - plus several inland, including one at Wainfleet Fire Station, which are also to be taken out of service.
According to a report, they are outdated - not least because the supplier which provided electronic spares has gone out of business.
Neighbouring Norfolk County Council also intends to cease using its sirens, while Essex County Council is undertaking a review.
The Lincolnshire initiative coincides with news that the county council is to receive a grant of £810,000 from DEFRA towards evacuation planning procedures.
Anyone wanting to register for the alerting service can contact the EA at 0845 988 1188.
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