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The Chair of the Joint Cleveland
Emergency Planning Committee Makes Statement
Barry Coppinger the chair of the joint Cleveland
Emergency Planning Committee has made the following statement on behalf
of the committee:
AMBULANCE
RELOCATION... 'UNACCEPTABLE RISK FOR INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC'... SAYS
EMERGENCY PLANNING CHAIR
Proposals by the North East Ambulance Trust to close down the current
Tees Valley Ambulance control centre from Ladgate Lane in Middlesbrough
and set up two new ‘contact centres—both on Tyneside—have been labelled
' an unacceptable risk for local industry and the public ' by the chair
of the Joint Cleveland Emergency Planning Committee, Councillor Barry
Coppinger.
His concerns come on top of those already expressed by councillors on
the Tees Valley Health Scrutiny Committee, the Cleveland Police
Authority and local MPs as the Ambulance Trust consults on proposals for
consolidation of ambulance control to the Tyneside area.
Says Councillor Coppinger “'Ambulance controllers at a Tyneside
call-centre would clearly not have the same local knowledge and that
would inevitably undermine our ability to meet the emergency planning
needs of an area which has one of the highest concentration of high risk
sites in the country.
“We consider risks all the time and undertake over forty exercises a
year to promote, prepare and safeguard public safety at our major sites.
We also have an extremely busy port at Teesport, an international
airport at Durham Tees Valley, and a number of large retail centres.
“In any major incident we need the right people, in the right place, in
the right numbers, fully equipped, at the right time, to respond and
reduce the risk to both people and property. The remoteness of an
ambulance control system totally based on Tyneside could seriously
weaken the excellent systems and plans we currently have in place.
“Despite these major proposed changes there has been no consultation so
far with the Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit, which must raise
concerns that the ambulance service regionally does not appreciate the
needs and risks that exist in the Tees Valley
'” I believe the relocation proposal must be reconsidered to give a
proper balance of risk and responsiveness across the region as a whole -
which they are legally committed to serving.
“I also want to see all relevant information on which this consultation
is taking place, including consultants, reports commissioned, put into
the public domain immediately, and be sent to all MP's and local
authorities in the Tees Valley, for detailed consideration.
“This is about public safety and not something we should somehow have to
opt into. What consultation has there been with all the emergency
planning partners? What consultation has there been with business and
industry across Teesside - whose assets and employees could face a much
greater risk if these ill-considered proposals go ahead? “
19-11-07
ENDS
The Joint Emergency Planning Committee is drawn from executive members
from the four Cleveland councils of Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton
and Redcar & Cleveland and oversees the work of the Cleveland Emergency
Planning Unit, which is funded by the four authorities
For more information contact Councillor Coppinger, telephone 01642
444511 (daytime), 01642 823635 (home), 07876 391793 (mobile)
Article added 21/11/07
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respect of the content of external websites as they are beyond the
control of the Cleveland Emergency Planning Unit
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