Councillor Tom Crone calls for an immediate and thorough investigation into changed document
The leader of the Green group on Liverpool City Council, Councillor Tom Crone, has called for an immediate investigation into claims that a document about the safety of 3G sports pitches was ‘sexed-up’ to dampen down health concerns.
‘This is a disgrace. Two documents which superficially look the same, with the same photographs on the front, have been presented to members of the Planning Committee but the latter one has a crucial summary deleted from it. This is a clear attempt to cover up the health concerns and put a watered down document before councillors making the decision.‘
Councillor Crone repeated his call for the installation of 3G sports pitches to be halted, at least until an EU report on their safety is published early next year.
And he pointed to the altered document as further evidence that those who are pressing ahead are prepared to ride roughshod over people’s safety concerns.
‘All we’re asking for as Green Party councillors is that the decision to move ahead with these pitches is delayed for a few months until the controversial safety concerns are addressed. The fact that the evidence presented to Planning Committee has been changed within a few short weeks proves that there are conflicting forces at work and that the concerns of those who point to possible health problems are fully justified in wanting further research,‘
‘I want to see safe, high quality sporting facilities provided for the people of this city but not at the expense of people’s long term health. This is the wrong time to be taking these decisions, let’s wait and see what the true picture is in the next few months.‘