Council defends traffic wardens accused of breaking Covid rules
AUTHORITY HAS INTRODUCED ‘WORKING BUBBLES’
A GROUP of traffic wardens seen congregating without masks on a Hull street were not breaking lockdown rules, says Hull City Council.
The photograph, right, was taken outside Hull Central Fire Station, west Hull, when a concerned essential worker snapped the photo on their way to work.
The photo appears to illustrate a group of Hull City Council traffic wardens congregating for a discussion at the roadside.
The essential worker, who works in a nearby shop and wishes to remain anonymous, said: “We are currently in the middle of a pandemic and being forced to stay at home. However these traffic wardens think it’s OK to stand and have a natter with no social distancing and no masks.
“I think it’s disgusting that the council allow their workers to just flaunt the rules like this while the younger generation constantly get the blame for the spread of the virus.”
The worker expressed his frustrations, stating that he wears a mask every day in order to protect himself and others, something he believes everybody should be doing – unlike the “four traffic wardens who don’t seem to be taking this deadly virus seriously”.
He went on to say: “We are doing all we can at work to keep our customers safe during these challenging times, making the sacrifice of not seeing family and friends in order to protect them and also to get this virus under control.”
But Hull City Council has said the wardens were not actually breaking any rules as the council has introduced “working bubbles”, allowing employees to mingle with one another.
The council says the image in concern features one of these bubbles, who were dealing with an important incident at the time where a man had been found injured and was in need of assistance.
The authority says many other organisations have introduced similar “working bubbles” alongside other safety measures.
In a statement, Hull City Council said: “Our traffic wardens, like many people, are continuing to do a fantastic job in what are difficult circumstances.
“Due to the nature of their role, we introduced working bubbles, alongside other safety measures, in order to both protect staff and stop the spread of the
virus. Many organisations have introduced similar measures.
“The image taken is of one of these bubbles, who were dealing with an incident where a man had been found injured and in need of assistance, briefing another bubble who had arrived to relieve them.”