AED for South side of Tarvin Bypass

Tarvin residents living on the southern side of the bypass or walkers doing the Sheaf farm loop / walking to the packhorse bridges currently have no speedy access to a life saving AED other than if they cross the bypass and come in to Tarvin village which would take about 12-15 minutes.

After three years where Tarvin Parish Council have worked hard to secure a location for the device in the area it has, so far, not been possible to find a suitable location.

The two obvious issues with locating an AED are that firstly, it needs power (albeit not very much) and secondly, it must be firmly attached to a permanent and fixed wall, fence or other suitable structure.

Residents around this location were sent letters asking if they would be prepared to locate an AED on the wall or fence of their property and to supply it with power. Whilst the AED itself does not require power, the cabinets have a heating element to keep the device at the correct temperature and a light inside. The estimated running cost for the cabinets is between £2 and £3 a year.

Unfortunately, despite being offered locations by 2 residents around the sheaf and getting very close to a successful installation with one of those, (to the point where the device was purchased by the PC and arrangements were being made to install it) in the end both property owners changed their minds.

The parish council did not give up. They have had extensive discussions with highways see if the device could be located at or near several sites. Highways will not allow power from highways owned lamps to be used for AED's however, three of the lamp posts on Broomheath Lane fall under the parish council's responsibility so the PC asked highways to consider those locations as well as those suggested by residents around the sheaf. Unfortunately, the highways agency have stated that the road is too narrow and all those locations which have been suggested are deemed not to be safe.

It is clearly a disappointment to residents on the south side of the bypass who want an AED in closer proximity to their home that an AED cannot be located there.

This subject is not entirely closed. If you have a property on the southern side of the bypass (Austin's Hill / Cross Lanes) and would be willing to provide a possible location and electricity for an AED on the southern side of the bypass, do please get in touch with Tarvin Parish Council via their website https://tarvinpc.tarvinonline.org/contacts.html# or by email on clerk@tarvinparishcouncil.org.uk

A petition is currently circulating asking residents of Tarvin if they agree that an AED is needed on that side of the bypass. If you would like to add your name please clickHERE

Judging from the response to this petition there is a lot of support for this. Many Tarvin residents who walk the Sheaf farm loop would potentially benefit from having an AED on the south side of the bypass. We have shared the link above to allow you to add your voice to this.