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Hereford City Centre is “one of the safest places to visit” says Herefordshire Council which is encouraging people to get into the festive spirit and start their Christmas shopping. Hereford City Centre is “one of the safest places to visit” says Herefordshire Council which is encouraging people to get into the festive spirit and start their Christmas shopping.
The announcement follows concerns by some traders that shoppers are staying away from the shops in the city centre due to the current Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak.
Herefordshire Council is working closely with the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and the Health Protection Agency to bring the outbreak under control.
Members of the authority’s Environmental Health team have taken more than 100 samples from cooling towers and air conditioning systems in a bid to trace the source of the outbreak.
“We can understand people’s concerns – Legionella is a serious disease,” said Andy Tector, Herefordshire Council’s head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards.
“The rigorous testing, cleansing and ongoing re-testing programme means that we’re confident that Hereford city centre is one of the safest places to visit,” he added.
“We’ve not stopped in our efforts to detect the source of the outbreak and, even though we have a likely source, testing is continuing to ensure there is no further risk.”
With late night Christmas shopping now underway he hopes people will put the outbreak to the back of their minds and start a festive spending spree in Hereford.
“Now’s the time to rally behind our shopkeepers and traders in the city centre,” he added.
William Lyons, Area Manager for the Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “While we acknowledge there’s concern among some shoppers, there’s absolutely no reason why people shouldn’t come in to the city centre, enjoy a spot of Christmas shopping, and get into the festive spirit.
“Shoppers can enjoy late night shopping and free parking on Wednesday evenings as well as a programme of street entertainment,” he added.
Hereford City Centre is “one of the safest places to visit” says Herefordshire Council which is encouraging people to get into the festive spirit and start their Christmas shopping.
The announcement follows concerns by some traders that shoppers are staying away from the shops in the city centre due to the current Legionnaires’ Disease outbreak.
Herefordshire Council is working closely with the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and the Health Protection Agency to bring the outbreak under control.
Members of the authority’s Environmental Health team have taken more than 100 samples from cooling towers and air conditioning systems in a bid to trace the source of the outbreak.
“We can understand people’s concerns – Legionella is a serious disease,” said Andy Tector, Herefordshire Council’s head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards.
“The rigorous testing, cleansing and ongoing re-testing programme means that we’re confident that Hereford city centre is one of the safest places to visit,” he added.
“We’ve not stopped in our efforts to detect the source of the outbreak and, even though we have a likely source, testing is continuing to ensure there is no further risk.”
With late night Christmas shopping now underway he hopes people will put the outbreak to the back of their minds and start a festive spending spree in Hereford.
“Now’s the time to rally behind our shopkeepers and traders in the city centre,” he added.
William Lyons, Area Manager for the Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, said: “While we acknowledge there’s concern among some shoppers, there’s absolutely no reason why people shouldn’t come in to the city centre, enjoy a spot of Christmas shopping, and get into the festive spirit.
“Shoppers can enjoy late night shopping and free parking on Wednesday evenings as well as a programme of street entertainment,” he added.