Southport BID have sent a formal objection regarding the Cambridge Arcade Covid-19 test centre to Sefton Council.
A letter, seen by OTS News, is signed by 11 businesses based in the Arcade as well as Susannah Porter, Chair of Southport BID and Director of Remedy Coffee Ltd on Lord Street.
But Sefton Council have said that the placement of the test centre is a government decision.
The letter in full:
We the undersigned wish to make a formal complaint about the proposal from DHSC to use the One Stop Shop in Cambridge Walks as a Corona Virus Walk-In Testing Centre. This is a retail arcade, only recently opened after lockdown and as business owners we are all struggling to make a profit in exceedingly difficult times. We are a tourist area and have lost a considerable amount of this year’s season already, the thought of a wet, cold Winter with a Global Pandemic and no money in the bank is a serious concern for us all. We need to make the most of the next 10 weeks and feel this decision will seriously affect income.
To be clear we do not object to a centre being sited in the Town Centre but feel that this is not a viable site. The One Stop Shop is:
- in a narrow, covered passageway,
- opposite three hospitality businesses with an outdoor seating area
- in close vicinity to 7 other businesses.
The hospitality industry is having to rely on outdoor seating at this time (as recommended by our Government) as we have much reduced seating inside and must try to make up daily takings in a creative way.
Having looked at the Council’s website, people visiting a testing centre are asked not to use public transport or taxis. This is a confusing message as we are not clear how people can get to this location? There are no car parks nearby, so the question we pose is: “Who is the centre intended for and how do they get to the Arcade?”
I believe a central location with high footfall is a criterion for selection to allow for the elderly to be able to access the centre, but this just adds to our confusion – how will they get there? Where are people walking or cycling from to get to the Arcade? If they are travelling by car where are we asking them to park and walk from? There just does not seem to be a logical decision-making process in place?
Can you please reply by return with answers to our questions and to furnish us with the detailed Risk Assessment we assume DHSC have done both with regards to the health and welfare of people in this high footfall, narrow, covered area – especially those sitting outside eating and drinking opposite the site and for the businesses in the vicinity with regards to the safety of their staff, goods on offer in the Arcade and daily takings.
With the amount of interest on Social Media that this decision has generated we are requesting that confirmation of this decision and the work being carried out on the centre be postponed until other locations are considered. Southport has wide pavements, big skies, lots of outdoor space especially closer to The Promenade there are several alternative sites that would not be so close to people sitting eating and drinking.
As a fellow business owner and Chair of Southport BID I have agreed to issue this formal objection on behalf of our Levy Payers.
We look forward to your co-operation in this matter.
Yours sincerely
Susannah Porter
(Plus 11 listed businesses in Cambridge Arcade)
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