You speak out over defibrillator snub
YOUR REACTION TO THE COUNCIL’S REFUSAL TO INSTALL DEFIBRILLATORS ACROSS THE CITY
PLANS to install defibrillators across Coventry were refused by council planning officers earlier this month – and the news has prompted a number of comments from Telegraph readers. In total, 15 planning applications were submitted at locations across the city centre to install digital screens – which would have a defibrillator on the reverse side . And Coventry City Council’s decision to reject the “Communication Hubs” – which would also have a telephone handset, touch screen and USB charger attached, has sparked a strong response. Daniela Di Pietro: “This can save lives, and give valuable treatment to people before the emergency services arrive. Have they actually looked around the City centre? And these are an eyesore?” Tony Timms: “They would be vandalised straight away.” Chris Storey: “That is appalling! There the one. back This are of needs plenty the Burges to of be eyesores appealed to name in Cov, just against. They save lives...” Susie Miller: “If you read the whole article it’s the whole unit and not the defibs that is classed as a visual eyesore, so there is no reason there still can’t be points in the city for the defibs to be placed. Why do they have to come as a package with the units anyway?” Lisa Hill: “Ridiculous. These units are installed across areas of London they do not clutter streets. They could save a life?” Helen Clarke: “They can save lives.” Rebecca Taylor: “We have these all over the place in Cleethorpes! They are not obtrusive! And have saved seven lives since being installed a year ago!” Rachel Willoughby: “Ridiculous.” Abby Redmond: “Distressing to read that to be honest.” Debbie June: “I spend time in Lichfield their council fund them in many places including schools and lives have been saved already.” Jackie-Philip Mccarthy: “How
ridiculous, they save lives that’s all that matters!!”
Deborah Mccarthy: “This is absolutely disgusting they are not an eyesore they are there to save people’s lives who on earth are these people that have said this at the council. There should a defibrillator on every street in this city what is wrong with people.” Sandra Witter: “Would love to see them about, but unfortunately they’ll just get stolen or vandalised!” A poll asking readers “Are visual eyesores a price worth paying for life saving equipment?” saw 82 percent of our readers saying that yes, visual eyesores are a price worth paying. A Coventry City Council spokesperson said: “We are in the process or rolling out free city centre wifi in a joint initiative with Intechnology wi-fi. “They are building the network now and they will run it. Free wifi will be available from later this year within the Ring Road and at Friargate.”
A further statement from the council said: “The planning applications for the defibrillators were part of a much bigger proposal of large ‘communication’ hubs that would be situated in key areas of the city centre.
“Concern over the size and design of the overall hubs generated a number of objections to these applications with representations from Highways and West Midlands Police amongst others.
“There had been no discussion before the application came in and although we are not opposed to them as an idea we are keen that they fit into our developing strategy for the city centre taking in to account how they work visually and how they take account of planned work.
“It was for these reasons the applications were refused.”