Virus testing site moved following residents' complaints

Kirklees Council is searching for a new place to house a Covid-19 testing site, after residents expressed their concerns.
Kirklees Council is searching for a new place to house a Covid-19 testing site, after residents expressed their concerns.Kirklees Council is searching for a new place to house a Covid-19 testing site, after residents expressed their concerns.
Kirklees Council is searching for a new place to house a Covid-19 testing site, after residents expressed their concerns.

Residents voiced their qualms with the testing site's proposed location of Savile Road, near Savile Town Sports Field, as it would have meant a loss in play and exercise space.

Following the recent spike in cases and subsequent local lockdown, residents understood the need for the facility, but wanted to see it in a more "suitable" location.

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Resident Shazina Haider said: "I fully appreciate and accept testing is needed and those who live in this area have lost many loved ones. However my concern lies with the decision to allow such a testing centre to be set up near a play ground car park.

"I am a parent, my son only very recently has been allowed to go play in the area with his friends. Home schooling and other issues wouldn’t allow this before. I have ensured that as a family we stick to all the Government advice. I have another son who is classed as high risk and also and elderly mother and father in law, all of whom use this very area which has been assessed and deemed suitable for suspected Covid infected people to attend."

The authorities have since decided to relocate the facility and are currently looking for a new location.

Mark Eastwood, MP for Dewsbury, told the Reporter Series: “I have received a number of emails from local people expressing their concerns, which I passed on to Council leaders and a local Councillor.

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"As a result of these complaints and others sent directly to the local ward councillors, it is my understanding that the Council are now looking at more suitable locations within the area, which should alleviate any further concerns.”

Rachel Spencer-Henshall, Strategic Director of Public Health at Kirklees Council, said: “As we have already announced, the local data has shown us that there’s been a spike in infection rates in Saville Town, so we’re working with the Government to set-up a walk-in testing unit in the community to encourage more people to get tested.

“We had planned to set this up on Savile Town Sports Fields on Savile Road, but we are now looking for a different site in the area. A number of residents have contacted us to explain their concerns for this site being used; including a loss in play and exercise space.

“We’re a council that listens and it’s crucial that people are comfortable and confident in using this testing unit so we can have the biggest impact possible. So we’re now working with the community to find a more suitable site in Savile Town. We have also worked with the community to set-up sites in Ravensthorpe, Holmfirth, Batley, Dewsbury and Fartown.

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“Thanks to everyone’s efforts across Kirklees, we’ve made some great progress in recent weeks in bringing our rates of infection down but they are still above the national average and we still need to do more to reduce them further to save lives and avoid a local lockdown.”