Latest news with #Thornley
Edinburgh Live
7 days ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Live
Call for action on Edinburgh busking as new rules won't be in place for this summer
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Action is needed to control busking in the Capital, a councillor has warned, as it emerged new rules for performers have been delayed beyond the start of the summer. The council started work last year to try and develop new rules for busking and busker management. Officers had intended to submit a report on the topic in autumn last year – but this has since been delayed until beyond the start of this summer. Liberal Democrat councillor Edward Thornley put forward a motion to the city's Culture and Communities Committee calling for an update on busking in the city. In it, he asks for council officers to present information on how effective temporary measures put in place during summer 2024 were, highlighting any new approaches and asking for any data that might be available. Last summer, the council put up posters at popular busking spots reminding performers of rules and passed out 'busking guides', in addition to an increased level of street outreach. He also asks that officers provide an update on the report concerning the new busker rules, and an outline of what steps will be taken towards their introduction. Officers met with buskers, fringe acts and members of the public when developing the new rules. At present, the council's rules for busking are available on the city's website. It calls on buskers to only perform between 9am and 9pm, and to move to a new site at least 50 metres away after every hour. Additionally, it asks them to keep the volume of their performances low, to not disturb nearby businesses and residents. It also says that buskers should not pitch up within 50 metres of another performer, and calls on them to not block pavements, doorways or cashpoints. It further says that Police Scotland can charge and seize the equipment of buskers in some circumstances. As of now, buskers do not need a licence to perform in the city. Cllr Thornley's motion will be discussed at the next meeting of the city's Culture and Communities Committee, set to take place on Thursday, 5 June, which can be viewed here.
NZ Herald
06-05-2025
- Health
- NZ Herald
Wellington cryptosporidiosis outbreak: High number of cases still being reported
'In the meantime, we are continuing to closely monitor case rates, hospitalisations and the spread and severity of illness.' As of the beginning of May, there have been 81 confirmed cryptosporidium cases in the Greater Wellington Region, with the majority of these being reported after the outbreak began in mid-March. 'This number is around twice the number of cases for the same time period last year, with around two thirds of cases residing in the Hutt Valley area,' Thornley said. 'The number of cases reported each week is steady, with only three new cases reported in the last week. Initially, a majority of cases were associated with swimming pool use, however, recent cases are more likely to be from close contact with an infected person.' Health NZ will continue to liaise with swimming pools or early childhood education centres that may be associated with a case in a bid to limit further spread of the infection. 'Crypto is a gastro bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea, and people can remain infectious for up to two weeks, which is why good hygiene and cleaning practices are important. People who have been unwell must not swim for two weeks afterdiarrhoea has stopped – crypto can still spread for two weeks after the illness has gone away. 'Children can return to preschool once symptom-free for 48 hours with a focus on promoting good hand washing and drying.' Details about specific precautions and advice can be found in the Crypto Factsheet and by Health New Zealand Recreational Water Safety. Lower Hutt woman Sarah, who is only being referred to by her first name, earlier said her husband and 1-year-old son caught the bug and were so violently ill 'I nearly called an ambulance'. '[My husband] was on the toilet at 2am screaming for me to go get a bucket,' she told the Herald. 'I ran down to get a bucket and came back and he'd passed out from overheating, pretty much, but it was almost like a seizure. His eyes were open and he was leaning back. 'I freaked and went to get my phone to call an [ambulance] and slapped him and he came to.' She said his body temperature was extremely high and he was sweaty, shaking and could not keep any water down. 'Anything he took came straight back out. He was also getting super-intense stomach cramps, it was incredibly painful for him.' She joked the experience was an example of 'through sickness and health, pretty much'. Meanwhile, her toddler was 'vomiting and sh***ing left, right and centre'. He was 'really hard to wake', but was 'happy enough' when he was conscious. Sarah said the bug was 'brutal'. Health officials have confirmed cryptosporidiosis cases were connected to the toddler pool at Te Ngaengae and the hydrotherapy pool at Huia. In response, Hutt City Council closed and disinfected both pools using high doses of chlorine and ultraviolet light in accordance with public health guidelines. 'As soon as we were made aware, we took immediate action,' read a statement at the time from Hutt City Pools + Fitness. 'Both pools were closed and underwent an intensive treatment process … There is no indication there had been further cases from the complex.' As a further precaution, several pools were drained and refilled. Council's head of aquatics, Iain Brown, said while they didn't have complete data, it appeared general attendance at pools was down about 15% in the weeks following the initial outbreak, though this has since recovered. 'We have done everything required by Public Health to keep our pools free from crypto and have worked effectively to keep the public informed about the issue. 'Pools are not the source of crypto outbreaks. It is introduced by pool users who carry the gastro bug. This can happen unwittingly as people suffering from crypto can still be infectious up to two weeks following recovery.' Health recommendations include: Soap and water instead of hand sanitiser, which does not kill the parasite. Close monitoring of tamariki hand washing, especially after illness. Cleaning with hot, soapy water before applying disinfectants like bleach, as crypto is resistant to many cleaners. Strict pool hygiene rules, including ensuring children shower and use the toilet before swimming, and avoiding pools for two weeks post-illness. The parasite cryptosporidium can cause vomiting, cramping and diarrhoea, and is not easily detected in regular pool-water testing.
