July 5, 2019 11.05 am
This story is over 27 months old
Grimsby skills hub axe treated as political issue, say campaigners
Councillors acted like they “were in a kids’ playground”
Dick Appleton with his daughter Sophie outside Grimsby Town Hall after a motion to save the community learning service in the town was rejected. Picture: Calvin Robinson.
Campaigners said the closure of a number of disabled and adult learning programmes in Grimsby was treated “as a political issue” and that councillors behaved like they were “in a kids’ playground”.
The service, which is based at the town’s Skills Hub, teaches between 400 and 700 people and a 2,800 signature petition was submitted to the council in an effort to save the centre.
Conservative council leader, Philip Jackson, said he felt “satisfied” that the last Labour administration “took the right decision” to close the facility.
But, Dick Appleton, whose 45-year-old autistic daughter Sophie attends the school, said the closure of the service was treated as a “political issue”.
Sophie Appleton, 45, uses the skills hub on Freeman Street. She is pictured with a banner campaigners are hoping to take to Grimsby Town Hall tomorrow. Photo: supplied
“You have heard it here tonight with the amount of back biting, it was like being in a kids’ playground,” he said.
“Nobody was prepared to listen and that was the reason the previous council were kicked out by the voters, because they proved to be a non-listening council.
“The request was ‘you show that you are a listening council’ and they are not.”
Mr Appleton described the service as the town’s “best kept secret” and that his daughter has benefited from being taught differently to mainstream educational establishments.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m just a concerned parent of an autistic person who can’t speak for herself and who needs to find alternative education of the quality that she has been receiving,” said Mr Appleton.
The Skills Hub, which is based on Freeman Street in the town, is earmarked to close a number of its programmes by the authority at the end of the academic year.
The Community Learning Skills Hub on Freeman Street run by North East Lincolnshire Council. Another on Brighowgate, is run by Navigo, not the authority. Photo: Google
The centre teaches people with special education, mental or physical needs in GCSEs, job skills and learning English as a second language.
Labour leader of the opposition, Councillor Matthew Patrick, called on the authority to halt the closure and to “keep an open mind” about the service.
He acknowledged that the decision to close the service was made under the last Labour council, but added that “new information had come to light” and urged the council to look again at the decision.
“What the service offers to our community is a second chance to those who might struggle to get one,” he said.
“All educational establishments aim to improve people’s lives, but in the case of the community learning service, they are the unsung heroes.”
Councillor John Fenty, cabinet member for regeneration, skills and housing at North East Lincolnshire Council. Picture: North East Lincolnshire Council.
But, Councillor John Fenty, cabinet member for regeneration, skills and housing, said Labour was giving “false hope” to petitioners and that the service was failing.
He added that learners would be “better served” at facilities elsewhere in Grimsby.
“I deeply care that whatever decision is made that learners and those that need the most help have good education provision,” he said.
The council said the move to close the service had been “a complex decision, giving consideration to the many significant challenges that the service has had to face over a number of years”.
It added that the hub itself will remain open and in use by some services, including the National Careers Service.
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Face coverings will once again be made compulsory in shops and on public transport from Tuesday, November 30 — but pubs and restaurants are exempt for now.
The Prime Minister announced the new, temporary measures to respond to emergence of UK cases of the Omicron COVID variant, with the first two cases in Nottingham and Chelmsford.
The government said the measures are precautionary, and will be reviewed in three weeks. MPs are due to vote on confirming the measures after they come into force.
The other significant change affects international travellers, with everyone entering the UK (other than those coming from the Common Travel Area that covers the Channel Islands and Ireland) will have to take a PCR test by the end of the second day after their arrival and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.
Travel restrictions have already been implemented to slow the spread of the variant. From Sunday, November 28, South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibi, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola were added to the UK’s travel red list.
About COVID-19 Omicron
The Omicron variant contains a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome.
Early indications suggest this variant may be more transmissible than the Delta variant and current vaccines may be less effective against it.
A rapid rise in infections in South Africa has been attributed to the spread of this new variant of COVID-19.
Health secretary: “plans as normal for Christmas”
Sajid Javid told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips On Sunday it would be “irresponsible to make guarantees” but the measures announced this week in reaction to the Omicron variant will “buy us time” to enable scientists to assess it.
“People should continue with their plans as normal for Christmas, I think it’s going to be a great Christmas,” he said.
But Mr Javid said the country was “nowhere near” reintroducing measures such as working from home or social distancing, arguing that they carry a “heavy price” economically, socially and in terms of mental health.
He added that he was expecting the government’s vaccines advisers to advise him “imminently” on broadening the booster programme to younger age groups.
The first two UK cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant have been identified, one of which was in Nottingham, near the Lincolnshire border.
Two cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 identified in the U.K.
Individuals and their households are self-isolating and contact tracing is ongoing
From 04:00 Sunday, November 28, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Angola will be added to the UK’s travel red list
After overnight genome sequencing, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that two cases of COVID-19 with mutations consistent with B.1.1.529 have been identified in the UK.
The individuals that have tested positive, and all members of their households, are being re-tested and told to self-isolate while further testing and contact tracing is underway.
One case has been located in Chelmsford and the other in Nottingham.
The two cases are linked and there is a link to travel to Southern Africa. UKHSA is carrying out targeted testing at locations where the positive cases were likely to have been infectious.
In addition, in line with updated advice from the UKHSA, from 4am Sunday Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola will be added to the travel red list. Travellers who have returned from these four countries in last 10 days must isolate and get a PCR test. UKHSA are following up recent arrivals from these countries.
This adds to the six countries placed on the red list on Friday.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid said:
“Thanks to our world class genomic sequencing we have been made aware of two UK cases of the Omicron variant. We have moved rapidly and the individuals are self-isolating while contact tracing is ongoing.
“We will do all we can to protect the UK public against this emerging threat and that is why we are surging testing capacity to the impacted communities and introducing travel restrictions on a further four countries: Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola. We will not hesitate to take further action if required.
“This is a stark reminder that we are not yet out of this pandemic. Getting the vaccine has never been more important – please come forward for your first jab if you haven’t already and if eligible, book your booster as soon as possible.”
Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said:
“We will continue to work closely with the international community to quickly gather and analyse information on this variant to understand any possible increase in transmissibility or resistance to vaccines.
“It is important that everyone takes sensible precautions – get a PCR test if you have symptoms, isolate when asked, wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, ventilate rooms, get your vaccine and boosters as soon as you can.”
Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of UKHSA, said:
“We have identified these cases thanks to the UK’s advanced sequencing capabilities which means we are able to find variants and take rapid action to limit onward spread. We are particularly grateful to public health colleagues in South Africa for early sharing of information on the Omicron variant to support global health security.
“We are continuing our efforts to understand the effect of this variant on transmissibility, severe disease, mortality, antibody response and vaccine efficacy.
“If you have any COVID-19 symptoms you must isolate and get a PCR test immediately
“It remains vital to come forward for vaccination, wear a face covering in crowded places and try to meet people in well-ventilated areas.”
From 04:00 on Sunday, November 28, non-UK and Irish residents who have been in Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Angola in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England. This does not apply to those who have stayed airside and only transited through any of these countries while changing flights.
UK and Irish residents arriving from 04:00 Sunday, November 28, must isolate in a government-approved facility for 10 days. During their stay, they will be required to take a coronavirus PCR test on day 2 and day 8.
About B.1.1.529 Omicron
The UKHSA designated variant B.1.1.529 as a variant under investigation (VuI) on Thursday 25 November. In response, the government announced that six African countries – South Africa, Botswana, Lesostho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and Namibia – would be added to the red list.
The B.1.1.529 variant includes a large number of spike protein mutations as well as mutations in other parts of the viral genome. These are potentially biologically significant mutations which may change the behaviour of the virus with regards to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility.
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