CROSBY & LITHERLAND
29 January 2020
Vol 27 l Issue 5
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Roadworks plea after traffic chaos
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VIOLENT THREATS MADE TO RIMROSE WORKERS A supervisor was told he would be ‘tortured’ while one man threatened to smash up the contractors’ vehicles Report by Danielle Thompson PEOPLE opposed to the Rimrose Valley Road project are being urged to treat Highways England survey workers “with respect” after some were verbally abused and threatened with violence. In one case a man told a group of workers he would come back later with some of his friends to “do them over” while another shockingly made a threat to ‘torture’ a supervisor. In another incident a man threatened to smash up the contractors’ vehicles. Highways England has now increased security in Rimrose Valley Country Park park while workers carry out surveys for the proposed new dual carriageway and the Save Rimrose Valley group has urged residents to “treat workers with respect.” The most recent incident happened on Thursday, January 23 when a man on a bike made threats to a group of workers and said he was coming back with other men to “do them over.” In a previous incident a man with an German Shepherd dog told a worker supervising an excavation that he would come back with a group of men and torture him. Earlier this month, a worker also had to move away from another man who was acting aggressively after he threatened to start smashing up the
Work is currently taking place to investigate ground conditions in Rimrose Valley
contractors’ vehicles. Merseyside Police has been made aware of all three incidents. Small trenches and bore holes are currently being dug at Rimrose Valley to investigate ground conditions as part of preparation work for the road project. The Save Rimrose Valley group who are opposed to the road being built urged people to “treat workers with respect” as “hostility towards the workers does not help our cause.” “For more information on our campaign and our plans for future demonstrations, search for Save
Rimrose Valley on social media or visit www.saverimrosevalley.org” Highways England say these holes will be filled in and the land will be returned to its previous condition by the end of February. Tim Gamon, Highways England’s major projects director in the North West, said: “The vast majority of people have been respectful of the workers carrying out the surveys in the park but we’ve had a few concerning incidents which we’ve spoken to Merseyside Police about. Continued inside
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Park group says ‘such behaviour is completely unacceptable’ A GROUP which aims to protect Rimrose Valley Country Park and opposes the road project called threats of violence towards workers “completely unacceptable” and urged people to treat the workers with respest. A spokesperson for Rimrose Valley Friends said: “This kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable, we are glad it has been reported and we are urging everyone who supports our campaign to treat these workers with respect. “We do have a legal right to protest and will be doing so, but all of our gatherings are peaceful, legal and family-friendly. “These actions are completely at odds with this approach, are not representative of our views and are apparently by a tiny minority of people who are unconnected with our work. “What this does demonstrate is the level of anger over the threat to Rimrose Valley. “We are asking people to direct this anger towards the institutions which are allowing this to happen, not the individuals carrying out work. “We have written to the Transport Secretary calling for the scheme to be cancelled in favour of sustainable alternatives and urge everyone to do the same. “A road will simply will not solve the problem and will destroy our green space in the process.” “We have written to Highways England asking them to share more information on the work being carried out and to clarify what health and safety measures are in place to protect the public. “We believe that simple steps such as signage around the park and notices in local press would go a long way to addressing the fears and concerns of our genuine supporters.”
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