Environmental health team to investigate social distancing complaints at Sports Direct in Shirebrook

Environmental health officers from Bolsover District Council last week urged the company to ensure the strict rules were being enforced at the massive warehouse complex.

However, the council says it has since received further complaints about staff leaving the site ‘in large groups’ who are again ‘not sticking to the social distancing guidelines’.

There have also been complaints about groups of people gathering on the street or in homes across the district during the lockdown – prompting a warning from council chiefs.

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A council spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports that there have been gatherings of two or more people either on streets or in properties who again are not adhering to social distancing guidelines.

“This is a serious issue and one that everyone must take seriously as it could eventually affect you, your family and friends.

“The Safer Neighbourhood Teams, which include the police and our CAN Rangers are actively patrolling the district and are enforcing the guidelines as and when they come across any such incidents.

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“This blasé attitude of ‘it won’t affect me’ has to stop as we all have to do our bit to ensure we beat this global pandemic.”

Council leader Steve Fritchley requested that an inspection of the Sports Direct site be undertaken immediately to ensure that all guidelines are being observed and this is set to take place today (Thursday, April 2)

Sport Direct yesterday issued all their agency staff with a new four-day shift rota pattern to help protect them and reduce the number of staff on site.

The company has also provided free bottles of hand sanitisers for all staff to use, is reviewing all areas of their business on a daily basis to ensure staff’s health and wellbeing is a priority and spread out car parking as an additional precaution.

If you witness any breaches of the social distancing guidelines in Bolsover or Shirebrook, call the council on 01246 242424 or police on 101.

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