The AA has announced this morning that it will provide around 5,000 free directional road signs to temporary vaccination centres in Britain to help guide local communities through the Covid-19 vaccination period.
It said the signs, which are made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, will help people navigate to vaccination locations that are not local hospital, pharmacies or GP surgeries – including a disused nightclub in Hertfordshire – and therefore could be less well-known and difficult to find.
All the temporary vaccination centres opening before the end of January are offered the free installations by the motoring group.
The AA has launched a scheme to offer free road signs directing people to little-known temporary vaccination centres across Britain
To date, the NHS has released a list of approximately 280 temporary Covid-19 ‘community vaccination centres’ which exclude hospitals, GP surgeries and pharmacies and is estimated almost double to 500 when locations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are announced.
Some of these locations might not be familiar, even to residents who have lived in the area for years.
For instance, one of the sites in Herfordshire is Batchwood, a disused night club.
Other examples of vaccinations centres that might be hard to track down include: King’s House, a conference centre in Bedfordshire; Nonsuch Mansion, a Grade II listed historic house in South West London; The Staddy, which is a function centre five miles outside Plymouth; and Whitby Pavillion, an entertainment complex overlooking the beach in the coastal town.
The AA is well-qualified to help in this unique way by providing free signs to these locations, having produced the UK’s first road signs more than 100 years ago.
The organisation expects to provide up to 5,000 free signs, which will be manufactured from 100 per cent recycled plastic.
The service will include production, distribution, fitting and maintenance of the signs, as well as removal and recycling at the end of the vaccination programme.
The motoring group says it is expecting to produce and install up to 5,000 free signs like these. They will be manufactured from 100% recycled plastic
Among the temporary vaccination locations is one in Herfordshire, which is Batchwood, a disused night club
Simon Breakwell, AA chief executive, said: ‘As the collective effort to fight Covid-19 continues, we are pleased to be able to offer immediate support for the nation’s vaccination programme through free directional road and location signs, to help drivers, riders and pedestrians find their way to their local vaccination centre with ease.
‘We are offering free signage to around 500 temporary Covid-19 community vaccination centres such as sports halls, religious venues, nightclubs and community buildings.
‘Everyone at the AA is keen to do what we can to help local communities through this time. Our patrols have been working hard throughout to continue helping drivers who break down, and now we are pleased to be able to guide them with directions on route to these very important destinations.’
The service will include production, distribution, fitting and maintenance of the signs, as well as removal and recycling at the end of the vaccination programme
The NHS has provided a list of vaccination centres across Britain, though the AA is concerned that some of those that are not hospitals, pharmacies or GP surgeries could be hard to locate
He added: ‘In a matter of days, the AA Signs team have come up with a bespoke solution to design, print, install, remove and recycle approximately 5,000 road signs and I am proud of our expert teams who have brought this idea to life. The AA is delighted to help sign the way to vaccinate Britain.’
Transport Minister Baroness Vere said: ‘It’s fantastic to see the AA offering to provide free signs to local authorities directing people to vaccination centres.
‘Their expertise will help people reach their centre, contributing to the already huge national effort underway to get people vaccinated.’
SAVE MONEY ON MOTORING
