Park ‘not best place for Covid testing centre’

COUNCIL SAYS SITE FENCED OFF AND AWAY FROM FAMILIES

IN OPERATION: The testing centre in Spinney Hill Park is being operated by the Ministry of Defence for the government and city council

A SENIOR councillor has criticised the siting of a coronavirus testing centre in a city park.

Testing has been taking place at Spinney Hill Park after Health Secretary Matt Hancock spoke about a new Leicester outbreak on Thursday.

The government and Leicester City Council set up the temporary site, which is expected to be open for five days.

City councillor Patrick Kitterick said he was concerned encouraging people who may have the virus to go to a popular park could lead to more people being infected.

Coun Kitterick, who is chairman of the council’s health scrutiny committee, said: “I understand the need to act quickly but you really do ask yourself if this was the best place for it.

“There are much better sites nearby where it could go where access to it could be properly controlled.”

He said when he went to the park a large number of people were out with their families and friends.

“You cannot blame people for heading down to the park on June days when most of the surrounding streets are terraced with small houses,” he said.

“But then you have to question asking other people to go to the park to get tested when they are going to be walking through it and mixing with families and groups of people who are playing cricket and volleyball.”

He said there also seemed to be a number of people “turning up out of curiosity”.

The council said the testing area is fenced off and away from the main body of the park.

Mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “It’s the perfect place because it’s at the heart of the community and people can walk there and don’t need access to a car.”

He said other park users would only be taking up a small area of the park at any time so it was unlikely to lead to problems with the virus being spread.

The city council has asked people to register online if they want a test, although Sir Peter said it was not essential.

He said: “Having the ability to book is useful to manage the number of people going along at any one time.

“I don’t think they will be turning anyone away but the last thing they want is a queue of 100 people.”

People in Leicester who think they have symptoms can book online for a test.

When they book they will be made an appointment at the testing site closest to them.