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CRACKDOWN LAUNCHED ON CITY CENTRE BEGGARS
THE Health and Safety Commission announced its policy
on regulating high hazard industries through the use of
permissioning regimes.
The new policy statement on permissioning regimes such as
nuclear power plants, addresses the issues raised by
stakeholders responding to the consultation exercise last
December builds on the outcomes from the Discussion Document
published in September 2000.
Vic Coleman, head of the Health and Safety Executive division
leading on this work for the HSC said:-
“We want to ensure our approach to permissioning
regimes is open, transparent and clear. Therefore it is
important we explain exactly what is involved in permissioning
regimes.
“In simple terms, a ‘permissioning regime’ requires
certain hazardous work activities, to have some form of “permission
“ from the safety regulator before operations can start or
continue. That “permission” might be a consent, license,
and letter of conclusion or acceptance of a safety case or
safety report by the safety regulator. Overall this provides
added assurance that risks will be properly controlled while
recognising that no system can guarantee safety”.
The policy statement formally sets out for the first time the
Commission’s approach to permissioning regimes.
Permissioning will only be considered where work activities
involve significant hazard, risk or public concern, for
example risks of multiple fatalities or widespread and
significant adverse effects on human health.
Vic Coleman added:- “When reviewing existing
permissioning regimes we will compare them against the
principles described in this policy statement to ensure they
remain fit for purpose. The policy statement will be kept
under review to ensure it reflects HSC’s evolving experience
of operating permissioning regimes.”
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DEADLINE SET FOR BOOT ESTATE
POTENTIAL developers for part of Liverpool's Boot Estate have been set a deadline of March 31 to come up with detailed plans as angry residents become restless as promised plans to revitalise the area are yet again delayed.
Bishop Loch, who have been involved with the plans for around two years now, have been given until the end of the month to come up with costed, workable plans which reflect what residents want.
And today the city council's executive member for housing Flo Clucas said she wanted work to begin before the end of the year. She said:-
"Residents on the Boot Estate have been waiting far too long for the changes which have been promised, and this is not going to continue. I want work to begin on the first 400 or so homes, phase one, by the end of this year at the latest.
Bishop Loch developers have been involved in plans for the estate for several years. But questions still have yet to be answered from residents and Liverpool city council about the possibility of a detailed strategy on how the company proposes to implement the rejuvenation of the area – Despite their assurance plans for a presentation are underway."
Councillor Clucas continues, "However, four months on since the whole Boot Estate situation was clarified, we've still not had a comprehensive and detailed proposal from them. Without this we can't do what's really important and get work started.
They now have until the end of March to come up with these plans. If this doesn't happen then we will have to look for another developer. Boot estate residents must not be forced to wait any longer."
Since a report went to the city council's executive board last November, significant moves are being made to take the project forward.
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