Permanent coronavirus testing centre for Bromley

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

A new permanent Covid-19 testing centre is to be set-up in Bromley, the local authority has announced.

Bromley council announced on Monday the new centre would be established at Cotmandene Crescent Car Park in St Paul’s Cray, amid widespread reports of residents struggling to access site across London.

According to the council testing is scheduled to start at the site tomorrow, subject to a successful site visit.

The ramping up of testing capacity in the borough will come as good news amid a backdrop of residents across London reporting difficulties accessing testing locally.

Some South-east London residents have been directed to testing sites in rural Wales and as far north as Leicester, as demand for tests surged, leading to a backlog.

The new permanent testing facility will be run on behalf of the Government by multinational security firm G4S.

It’s the second major testing centre in the borough, alongside the drive-through facility which has operated throughout the pandemic at Norman Park.

The council confirmed it was also looking for a suitable site for another facility in the north of the borough.

Bromley council maintained that anyone with coronavirus symptoms “however mild” should book a free swab test.

The council says tests should be booked or ordered as soon as symptoms begin at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119.