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CROSBY & LITHERLAND
11 March 2020
Vol 27 Issue 11
INSIDE THIS WEEK: Hospital staff member tests positive for coronavirus A MEMBER of staff at Aintree University Hospital has tested positive for coronavirus. The hospital announced on Monday that the staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 after recently returning from a holiday in Italy. A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We can confirm that a member of staff based at Aintree University Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19 after recently returning from a holiday in Italy. “The safety of our patients and staff is our top priority and we are working with Public Health England and NHS England to inform and advise everyone who may have come into contact with this individual. “We have reiterated to our staff the protocols for controlling infection, which include checking for the latest updates on affected areas designated by the government and informing their manager if they have recently travelled to any of them. “Aintree University Hospital remains open and patients should attend their appointments as planned unless they are unwell. “For the majority of people the risk from COVID-19 is low. “The NHS has an online service that can tell you if you need medical help, which is available at www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or by calling NHS 111.”
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HIGHWAYS ENGLAND SPENT £5,500 TO ‘SPY’ ON ANTI-ROAD GROUP
Tweed-jacketed security staff attended meetings for ‘safety purposes’ say firm, following threats to staff at project site Report by Tom Martin
HIGHWAYS England spent nearly £5,500 on a surveillance and security firm to monitor a series of public consultation events held last year on their proposed road through Rimrose Valley Country Park. A Freedom of Information request made by the Save Rimrose Valley campaign found the government-owned company spent £5,424 on a company called Conquest Consultation & Security Services Ltd. Some of last year’s consultation events, which were held to give information to the public on plans to build a road through Rimrose Valley Country Park, took place at the Park Hotel, in Netherton, and SING Plus Centre, in Seaforth. Campaign groups including Save Rimrose Valley and Church Road Residents and District Residents Association (CRADRA) used these events to hold demonstrations outside the venues. Highways England claim the decision to bolster security was brought in following “abusive or threatening behaviour” shown towards their staff.
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surveillance of protest groups and specialises in public consultation events. “It also claims to be discreet, although in our case, its staff were easily identifiable as they had all chosen to wear matching tweed jackets. “They watched us as we protested outside. Inside, they hovered nearby as we discussed the road proposals with members of Highways England’s staff and its subcontractors. “It was an uncomfortable experience. “What sort of message does this send to the public? There is absolutely no trust here. Was this purely security, or was information gathered? If so, what has been done with any footage or photographs?” Campaigners protest outside SING Plus Centre, in A spokesperson for Highways England Seaforth, during last year's public consultation event said: “The safety of every one of the 600 people who attended our public informaThe Champion reported how contractors who are tion events last year was our main priority. “The vast majority of people affected by the procarrying out ground survey work in Rimrose Valley posals for a new bypass to the Port of Liverpool have Country Park were verbally abused in January, but been respectful of our staff, but we have had a few this was after the public consultation events. Save Rimrose Valley claim they easily spotted the concerning incidents where people have experisecurity members during the consultation events enced abusive or threatening behaviour. “We therefore employed a security firm to make held last year because they wore “matching tweed sure the events ran smoothly. jackets” and “hovered nearby” to the campaigners. “This is not unusual for an event of this type, and Speaking on behalf of the group, Stuart Bennett the security firm was employed purely to carry out said: “We find this type of activity disturbing. “The firm’s website confirms that it carries out this role.”
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