Testing, testing

New Covid-19 assessment centre opens as district’s infection rate remains second worst in England Anxious residents raise fears over location of site next to primary school and busy footbridge

A new Covid-19 testing centre opened on the edge of the town centre on Friday - but anxious residents have raised fears over its location.

The facility was set up in the Victoria Road car park last week as the district continues to suffer the second highest infection rate in the country.

But residents have shared concerns about opening the centre in the car park, which is next to Victoria Road Primary School and overlooked by a busy footbridge.

In a letter to Ashford Borough Council’s (ABC) chief executive Tracey Kerly last week, South Ashford resident Jean Shrubb begged the authority to stop the launch of the facility.

“It’s the most ridiculous place for it,” she said.

“There is a primary school located adjacent to the Victoria Road site.

“Yes, I hear you say, young children are far less likely to get it, but, sorry, my friend’s three-year-old has just spent three weeks on the ITU [Intensive Therapy Unit] with complications associated with coming into contact with the virus at nursery school and will be under the care of a cardiologist for some time to come.”

Mrs Shrubb says the Stour Centre car park - where the Army has already been carrying out Covid-19 testing during the crisis - would have been a better spot for the new facility.

In her letter to the council, she added: “It is impossible to keep two metres away from people using the footbridge over the railway line and this is the major pedestrian route to town from South Ashford.

“Is it appropriate that people from South Ashford, an area already considered to be one of the poorest parts of the borough and all that that entails, have now to reconsider how they will get to town for essential shopping?

“Will ABC be undertaking regular cleaning of the footbridge and steps, including all handrails associated with this walkway, something it hasn’t done for almost 30 years?

“There has been a temporary test site located in the Stour Centre car park. Is it a case of not in my backyard from ABC?

“For now the Stour Centre site is perfect, well away from any pedestrian footpaths, large enough to accommodate a greater number of cars and not impede traffic.”

In response, Ms Kerly said she “totally understands” the concerns about the site, which opened on Friday after the town’s MP Damian Green lobbied the government during a House of Commons session earlier this month.

Ms Kerly sought to reassure Mrs Shrubb, writing: “The testing station is a drive in, drive out facility and the test is carried out in the car either by the individual or supported by a trained tester to undertake the test on behalf of the individual wearing appropriate PPE.

“The test is then distributed into a separate location on exit where it is then taken off site for testing.

“The testing area is a distance from any public access that runs alongside the car park.”

To book a test, visit www. nhs.uk or call 119.

Picture: Barry Goodwin This photo taken on Friday morning from the nearby footbridge shows staff preparing to open the site

The new Covid-19 testing centre has been set up in Victoria Road, sparking concerns it is next to a primary school and overlooked by a footbridge