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H&S hits Cancer Research shop

25th February 2011 @ 7:07am – by Audlem Webteam
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Audlem's most popular charity has been dealt a potential body blow by a Health & Safety inspector.

Despite passing previous inspections, and nothing having changed recently, a Health & Safety inspection has resulted in the immediate closure of the Cancer Research shop that raises up to £20,000 a year for the charity.

Technically, the shop was ordered to be closed by the Area Volunteer Manager for Cancer Research UK based on the adverse health and safety report. Cancer Research UK therefore withdrew their insurance cover resulting in the closure.

Detailed reasons for the closure are in the post – which means they may not arrive for a very long time – but the shop is having to close immediately. It's thought the reasons may revolve around an upstairs fire exit, this despite the shop passing its most recent fire inspection.

The interesting question is why all has been fine and dandy for so many years and, suddenly, there's an immediate closure notice. The answer appears to revolve around the ever-more omnipotent insurance industry and the remote risk that someone may sue. This is despite an accident-free record over many years.

Christine Plume, of Audlem Aid for Cancer Research says: "It's so frustrating. We raise up to £20,000 a year and now we are having to close, hopefully only temporarily, because of Health and Safety and insurance issues when we have never had a problem."

Ironically, a good proportion of the staff and customers walk up Stafford Street to the shop. Here, as pedestrians, they are confronted daily with 44-tonne heavy goods vehicles climbing the pavement, reversing down hill when meeting another HGV in the 12ft+ wide winding road, and pushing cars and walkers alike aside. Reassuringly, this has never been considered the slightest risk to anyone in the Health & Safety industry who seem able to turn a blind eye to this blindingly obvious hazard.

The following notice is now posted at the Cancer Research shop:

Audlem Aid To Cancer Research
After an assessment by a representative of Health and Safety our shop in Shropshire Street has had to cease trading until remedial work has been carried out. We regret any inconvenience to our customers.

Christine adds that the AACR Spring Fair will still go ahead on 12th March from 10.00am – 12.30pm at the, hopefully, extremely safe Audlem Methodist Church Hall.


This article is from our news archive. As a result pictures or videos originally associated with it may have been removed and some of the content may no longer be accurate or relevant.

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