Blackburn with Darwen moves to Tier 3 alert level

Following the completion of this week’s negotiations between the Government and Lancashire leaders on coronavirus restrictions, we are now able to confirm the latest position for the borough.

Blackburn with Darwen is being placed into the ‘very high’ alert level of the Government’s new three-tier system of interventions to tackle the spread of Covid-19.

It means the borough and wider Lancashire region will, from midnight tonight (Friday into Saturday), be under the strictest set of restrictions due to the high rate of infection in the area for at least four weeks.

The Council had been locked in talks with the government for days. While the Council accepted more measures were needed to curb the spread of the virus, it hoped government would agree to further requests for support, powers and tools local leaders thought were necessary.

As part of those talks it has been agreed that gyms and leisure centres will remain open and there will be extra support for businesses affected or forced to close.

Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Councillor Mohammed Khan, said with a very heavy heart, he agreed with the proposals to put Blackburn with Darwen into very high risk tier.

He said:

My priorities are to protect lives, protect the vulnerable and protect the economy as much as possible. I am extremely worried about the situation. It is getting worse so action needed to be taken urgently. Cases are rising, hospital admissions are continuing to rise and sadly, deaths will inevitably start to rise.

Government made clear to us that we would be made a very high risk area with or without local support because of the number of cases we have in the borough and the pressure on our health system. Our job then was to get as much support as possible for the businesses which need to close or are badly affected.

We are part of a region which does not have the same powers or resources as Manchester or Liverpool, so sadly we don’t have as much room for negotiation. Since talks began, myself and other leaders in Lancashire have been fighting for as much extra support as possible.

Given the public health situation, reluctantly I, along with other leaders, accepted the proposal to put us in tier three. I had no alternative given it would have been imposed on us with no extra support and the worsening public health situation.

I welcome the further funding to facilitate discretionary business grants so we can target help at those which need it the most.

Keeping gyms and other fitness centres open was absolutely vital as one of the ways to tackle this is by improving people’s health and wellbeing.

The support the government have agreed is a start but I believe more needs to be done.

I know some residents and businesses will be anxious following this decision. We have been living under different restrictions in this borough for months. People are sick and tired of the situation and just want a return to a semblance of normality.

I would urge residents and businesses who are still open to work with us despite understandable frustrations and Covid fatigue. Please adhere to the regulations and guidance.

If everyone works together, helps each other and follows the basics of washing your hands, wearing a face covering, keeping 2m from others, getting test if you have symptoms and self-isolated when told to, the more progress we can make. Together we can beat this virus.”

The new restrictions include:

• People must not socialise with anybody they do not live with, except with those who have formed a support bubble , in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events

• People must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
• All pubs and bars must close, unless they are serving substantial meals

• People should try to avoid travelling outside the very-high alert level or entering a very-high alert level area, other than for work, education or for caring responsibilities or to travel through as part of a longer journey
• Residents should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK, and others should avoid staying overnight in the Very High Alert area

In addition, following discussions with local leaders it was agreed that from Monday 19th October at 00.01:

• The adult gaming industry, casinos, bingo halls, bookmakers and betting shops, and soft play areas must close.
• Car boot sales would not be permitted

Further details can be found at: gov.uk