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Somerset County Herald and Taunton Courier. Saturday 23 Jul 1938
Page 3 Column 1
PASSAGES UNDER TAUNTON
A.R.P ORGANISER EXPLORING
READY-MADE BOMB SHELTERS
The possibility of adapting ancient underground passages in Taunton as air-raid shelters is being investigated by Lieut.-Colonel J. Cameron DUNBAR, Air Raids organiser for the area.
He told the Area Committee on Monday afternoon that he intended exploring these passages, some of which are said to connect with the oldest buildings in the town.
Mr. C. H. GOODLAND presided at the meeting, supported by the Mayor (Dr[?]. A. J. H. ILES) and representatives of local authorities of Taunton and Wellington and of other organisations.
ORGANISER TO EXPLORE.
Colonel DUNBAR said he had already earmarked two possible air-raid shelters, but this was not enough. “I have had permission to explore these subterranean passages in Taunton,” he said. “I have discovered two already, and I am starting on Wednesday morning to go underground and see if I can find a passage from the traffic circle in Corporation-street to the Police-station. I have also been told of a passage under the County Cricket Ground with four openings, leading from the old Liberal Club, past the Cricket Ground, and along St. James'-street to North-street. They will have to be opened up. I am told there is another leading from the direction of Bridgwater past the old Priory. I believe that a party once investigated it, but became nervous and returned.
SHELTERS FOR ALL TAUNTON.
“I have also been informed of an underground passage from Bishop's Hull to the Shire Hall. If these passages are to be found you will have bomb-proof shelters for the whole of Taunton. They could be put into a proper state at very little expense.”
The Mayor said they might be made gas-proof, though not bomb-proof unless they had 26 feet of concrete over them.
Colonel DUNBAR said there was a considerable depth of solid material above the tunnels.
The Chief Air Raids Warden, Mr. HAARER, reported on the progress of the work in his charge.
£1,520 ESTIMATE.
The Committee considered the scheme approved by the County Council recently, dealing with both organisation and finance.
Having discussed the question whether the Committee was sufficiently representative of the community, the members decided to invite Taunton Chamber of Commerce to send a delegate.
The Committee was asked to send to the County Council an estimate of expenditure to March 31st, 1939. The figures were presented by Colonel DUNBAR, who said he was allowing £10 for records and £10 for recruitment of personnel. He estimated £800 would be needed for instructing the public, training personnel, the cost of lectures and 'bus fares for those living at a distance from the classes. For expenses such as telephone, postages, and publicity he allowed £100, and for plans and the cost of adopting buildings, £600. It was impossible to estimate exactly the amount required for any purpose, but those amounts, totalling £1,520, should be more than necessary.
Asked whether any buildings had yet been adapted, Colonel DUNBAR said he was not allowed to undertake any building work until war was declared or the Government decided there was grave danger of war.
A member: It may be too late then.
FIRST-AID WORKERS.
Col. DUNBAR said there were 110 voluntary first-aid workers apart from the trained St. John and Red Cross workers. They needed a hundred more first-aid workers. It had been arranged that village wardens should undergo a short modified course of six lectures (instead of twelve lectures for the town wardens), and to dispense with the examination.
The Chairman said there might be some feeling if the country wardens received their badges for six lectures while town wardens had to take twelve lectures and pass an examination.
The Mayor suggested that the lectures might be too “high-brow” for the countryman.
It was agreed that all wardens should pass some examination before receiving their badges.
Mr. R. JENNINGS, Milverton, contended that lecturers were trying to pack too much into one lecture. Even ex-Service men, with experience of gas, found difficulty in grasping the facts, he said.
Speaking of the difficulties of organising classes to suit everyone, Colonel DUNBAR said some men had objected to receiving instruction from a woman, and he had had to make different arrangements.