Life goes on for local councillors
THE majority of Southport’s population is currently on lockdown to try and stop the rapid growth of the novel Coronavirus.
As residents self isolate, the everyday issues facing the town still exist, however far down in priorities they may be right now.
The outside world will resume at some point when schools and businesses reopen and people can return to work.
Local councillors represent the public interest as well as individuals within their ward and still have a role to play both in the crisis and helping to rebuild afterwards.
Although unable to currently hold surgeries and face-to-face meetngs with the public, they are still contactable about issues and can effect change.
Duke Wards Liberal Democrat councillor Tony Dawson, said: “Councillors largely deal with issues which, while small for many, are important to a few. It would be easy for any councillor who wanted to take advantage of the crisis to stop bothering about even these little things – and do virtually nothing for weeks or months. I hope my colleagues do not fall for such temptation. There is plenty of stuff which does not have to stop – and it is our job to monitor this.”
Many Southport councillors have been thinking of solutions locally that can be done to help the impact of the crisis on the town.
Fellow Dukes Ward Conservative councillor Sir Ron Watson said: “The local NHS and Sefton Council should try and make arrangements with Byng House (owned by the Royal British Legion) to use their accommodation for people who can be discharged from hospital if they don’t need an acute bed. This would free up beds almost immediately.
‘‘We should also consider the same arrangement with the Wing Fellowship.
“There has been some movement but local hotels could possibly be used for vulnerable people who live alone as they can have their own space but the services of care workers who simply cannot provide the same level of service.”
The worsening crisis has led many people around the UK to question whether the country has been prepared enough for a pandemic and whether the Government should have acted sooner. Some local councillors have also gone down the same line of critical thinking.
Cllr Dawson said: “We need to take a keener interest in the bigger things. I’ve been appalled at the reports from various hospitals around the UK of vital protective equipment not being available to NHS staff – even after the Government has promised that there will now be such availability.
“Modern countries like the UK have had national ‘disaster planning’ departments for many decades. Global pandemics are one of the most predictable sorts of disasters. You know they will happen – you just don’t know precisely when. It is five years since Bill Gates did a ‘TED talk’ video explaining the inevitability of something like COVID-19 or even worse.”
As the number of cases of Coronavirus rises, the further impact it will have on the economy as well raising other problematic issues such as panic buying and isolation. If well prepared and informed however, the country can overcome these obstacles and also slow down the growth rate of the virus.
Cllr Watson said:
“The critical element is to keep the public informed as much as possible particularly as we will hit a peak in two or three weeks’ time.”