Shock and concern at violent street attack
RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT ABOUT A BRUTAL ASSAULT IN UXBRIDGE STREET WHICH LEFT A MAN IN A CRITICAL CONDITION IN HOSPITAL WITH SERIOUS INJURIES –
RESIDENTS in Burton where a man was brutally attacked and left fighting for his life have called for “something to be done” after claiming there had been other incidents of violence near their homes.
They have been speaking of their shock and concern after the 30-yearold victim was found in in Uxbridge Street with a suspected broken leg and a deep cut to his head.
He remains in hospital in a critical condition.
He was found at 5.15am on Tuesday, leading to a police investigation. Police said there was another assault in the area at around the same time, in which a 26-year-old man suffered grazes and cuts.
He was checked over by paramedics, but did not require hospital treatment. A resident in Queen Street, who did not wish to be named, said: “This is not something new in this area. A few months back there was a brawl on the same street where a man was stabbed and something needs to be done.
“I didn’t see the attack but when I went to a shop on the street I heard the shopkeeper and his staff member talking about it and he told me that someone has been attacked in the early hours of the morning.
“It’s very dangerous and can be life -threatening, which is not something you want to see. It’s a very busy street and some time an innocent bystander can get caught up in it, especially if they are trying to save the person being attacked.
“I hope the person who has been attacked will recover and I hope those who are responsible are punished and that will be a message for others to not do the same.”
Another resident, who runs a business in Uxbridge Street and also did not want to be named, said: “The attack happened very early in the morning and there were not a lot of people outside.
“When I opened my shop at around midday a lot of customers were asking me do you know what happened and when I said, ‘no,’ they told me that there was an attack in the morning.
“It’s something that does happen too often here and there needs to be some proper enforcement to make people understand that this is wrong and against the law.
“It’s not nice; there are a lot of families living on the street and that’s not something they want to see or hear about.”
A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “As part of the ongoing investigation officers have been conducting house-to-house inquiries and viewing local CCTV.
“Detectives are also keen to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and for anybody with dashcam footage to contact the police.”
Anyone with any information should message Staffordshire Police on Facebook or Twitter, quoting incident number 0063 of March 16, or call 101.
A POP-UP Covid clinic is coming to Burton and those eligible to get the jab are being urged to book in.
It comes after public health bosses issued an urgent plea to people in the town to get tested for coronavirus and take up the vaccination to help bring down the number of cases in the town.
Health chiefs at Staffordshire County Council urged people to take the measures and follow the Covid rules as the East Staffordshire area, including Burton, continues to have the highest rate in the whole of Staffordshire.
Although the rate of cases has fallen, the Anglesey, Shobnall, Horninglow and Eton Park area in Burton town centre, continue to be areas of concern, a spokesman has said. Last year the areas were at a centre of a Covid outbreak in the town
The pop-up clinic will return to the community centre at Central Jamia Mosque Rizvia, in Uxbridge Street, on Friday, March 26, between 2pm and 4pm.
The clinic is an effort to encourage residents who are eligible for the vaccine to book an appointment as soon as possible, a spokesman for the county council said.
Take-up of the vaccine is especially low among the South Asian communities in the area and the council and its NHS partners say they are working closely with local communities to ensure as many eligible people as possible take up the offer of a vaccine.
Eligible people include:
■■Frontline health and social care workers;
■■All those 55 years of age and over;
■■Adults who have received a letter from the NHS notifying them that they are clinically extremely vulnerable;
■■People with learning disabilities;
■■People over 16 with underlying health conditions;
■■Paid carers.
Take-up is strictly by booking only. Eligible people in these communities are being urged to call Staffordshire County Council on 0300 111 8050 to book their vaccine appointment.
Appointments must be booked in advance and phonelines are open now. The cut-off for bookings will be 3pm on Wednesday, March 24.
Dr Richard Harling, the council’s director of health and care, said: “Our figures have shown take up of the vaccine from people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds is generally lower than average.
“We must do all we can to overcome any barriers or perceptions that may exist and encourage people from every community to take up the vaccination and protect themselves from the deadly virus.
“Having vaccine clinics in familiar surroundings, in the very heart of communities can encourage more people to take up the offer and book their slot.”
Mohammed Haroon, chairman of the Burton Welfare Association and the Central Jamia Mosque Rizvia, said: “It’s great news that the pop-up vaccine clinic is returning to Uxbridge Street as it’s vital we continue to urge local residents to take up the vaccine when offered.
“The return gives us a further opportunity to remind people how important vaccination is, that it’s safe, effective and receiving it is not frowned upon by any religious or faith groups.
“Having vaccine take-up in all our communities is essential to keep people safe and allowing everybody to look forward to returning to normal and a route out of the pandemic.
“I would ask every eligible person who has not been vaccinated to book now to safeguard yourselves, your family, your friends, and community.”