Lancaster calls for Covid-19 Tier separation from Lancashire as district records lower than national average rates
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Pub landlords, restaurant owners, solicitors, security firms, small businesses and shops have all signed a joint letter which has been sent to the county representative for Public Health England as well as Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council.
Phil Simpson, from Lancaster Brewery, has written the letter on behalf of a huge list of businesses and organisations from across the Lancaster City Council area, representing the "economic heart of Lancaster and Morecambe", and employing many hundreds of staff.
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Hide AdThe letter calls on the government to treat the Lancaster district separately to the rest of the county when England emerges from the current lockdown on December 3.
It argues that the Covid-19 infection rate figures for the Lancaster district are not only significantly lower than the county average, but also well below the national average.
The letter reads:
"The purpose of this letter is to request that the Lancaster City Council area be judged on its statistics, not simply grouped in with the performance of Lancashire County Council as a whole.
"Last week I and others petitioned businesses to support this objective and this is what they agreed.
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Hide Ad"Since the start of this pandemic, companies and organisations in the district have worked in tandem with Lancaster City Council to implement and adhere to the strictest hygiene protocols.
"Many of the more robust procedures introduced nationally in summer 2020 were already commonplace in our area.
"Our diligence and efforts contributed to this area’s consistently low infection levels. However, like many other university towns in the UK we endured a spike in our infections levels in the September and October period and we believe most local people understood the necessity for the introduction of the Tiers and the more recent lockdown.
"Happily in the days and weeks since the start of the Tiers and lockdown, we’ve seen a steady and consistent drop in the infection levels across the Lancaster City Council area. The efforts and sacrifices made by the people of our region have been rewarded with infection levels that are currently below the national average and substantially below the average levels in the North of England.
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Hide Ad"When we emerge from the current lockdown, expected on the 3rd of December, if the Lancaster City Council district infection rates are significantly lower than the rest of the county then we believe we should be treated separately to the rest of Lancashire County Council.
"We’ve already proven we are different. When Lancashire moved into Tier 2 on the 14th October 2020, the infection level in the Lancaster City Council district was substantially lower than the rest of the county. Our Covid infection rates are currently half the Lancashire average and a quarter of the levels in the highest areas in the county. Importantly, the Lancaster City Council district is distinct to the rest of the county. Over 20 miles from any other large population centre, it operates as a separate economy, with a separate retail sector, separate health care provision and a separate hospitality sector. It is a key factor in explaining why our infection levels have never risen to the heights of other parts of the county.
"We have been successful as a district in lowering infection levels due to the hard work and strict adherence to the rules. The businesses of this region have played an important part in reducing the risks to our local population. However, we’ve also suffered financially and the fates of many businesses, and their hundreds of employees, now hang in the balance. It is vital that this district, after having achieved excellent results in mitigating the impact of the virus, not be punished further for their efforts.
"We in the Lancaster City Council district are not seeking any special treatment. As an area we should be judged in exactly the same way as any other part of England. Yet there is precedent for separation. Barrow Borough Council was in a different tier to the rest of Cumbria and, despite higher infection levels than the Lancaster district, Blackpool was excluded from the Tier 2 restrictions.
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Hide Ad"Please don’t damage the Lancaster and Morecambe economy with any more restrictions than are absolutely essential. If we deliver it, reward our success. Rather than be judged on the success of more distant locations like Burnley and Skelmersdale, it is vital that we are assessed on the basis of the performance and the needs of our district.
We urge you to work to ensure that the principles of separation of Lancaster City Council district from Lancashire County Council be agreed prior to the end of the current lockdown.
Best regards
Phil Simpson
Lancaster Brewery
On behalf of the following representatives and owners of local businesses and organisations:
Claire Tomlinson - John O'Gaunt
Rob Mason - Quite Simply French
Kim Robinson - The Royal Hotel
Esther Stepaniuk - The Brown Cow
Adrian Walsh - Printing.com
Mike Brandwood - George & Dragon
Mick Hoyle - Squires Pool and Sports Bar
Patrick Hall - Tipple Cocktails
Peter Harrison - FGH Security
Andrew Neale - Fine & Country
Rachel Wright - The Waterwitch
Tim Tomlinson - The White Cross, Merchants, Stonewell Tavern
Adam Parton - Moore & Smalley
Sam Jones - Generation, Fibbers, Greenland Farm Village
Paul Roberts Jr - Glow
Dominic Leighton - The Three Mariners
Simon Longley - The Tap House
Linda Young - The Horse & Farrier
Carl Johannessen - Jigsaw PFM Lancaster BID
Mark Diggle - Diggles
Alison Stainthorpe - CancerCare
Paul Cusimano - Joseph & Co
Jon Davis - The Golden Lion
Paul Tarry - The Wagon & Horses
Pablo Aguilar - Kanteena
Joe Ruddock - The Toll House
Tom Robinson - The Wobbly Cobbler
Mike Gibson - Miralis
Bruno Buccelli - Buccellis
Tiffany Moore - Renes Fashion
Carl Neal - Mint
Jake Clark - EI Security
Lisa Sadler - The Auckland Hotel
Kathleen Simpson - Giggles Play & Adventure
Debbie Ellershaw - The Exchange, Morecambe
Simon Barton - The Cornerhouse
Jayne McCarten - Lancaster Cricket & Sports Club
Sandra Cottam-Shea - SCS Logistics
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Hide AdRobert Mee - LGBT Out in the Bay, Lancaster & Morecambe Pride Jenny Pape - Azets Lancaster
Travis Hunter Dunlop - The Mad Hunter Lancaster
David Osbaldeston - Merchants 1688
Abi Denby - Stonewell Tap
Tim Barbary - Brittlestar Wine Bar & Coffee House
Bru Wood - The Palatine
Gemma Carradice - The Sun Hotel & Bar
Chris Duffy - The BrewHouse & Tap
Gary Forster - UK Bathroom Store
Fiona Tanton - Fiona Tanton Freelance Hairdresser
Pam Bowman - The New Melbourne Pub
Christine Whitaker & Susan Probert - Beauty154
Guy Cookson, Charlie Haywood, Aidan Watt - Hotfoot Design
Mike Dent - Accidental Brewery & Micropub
Tony Backhouse - RFM Business Consulting
Louiza Rabouhi - Louiza Rabouhi Design
Dan Knowles - D & S Knowles Consulting Ltd
Paul Aisthorpe - Scale Ability Ltd
Shay Walsh - MMA Lancaster
Richard Townend - Heysham Cricket Club
Debbie Cook - The Bridal Collection of Lancaster
Ruth Wilkinson - The Consult Centre
Mike Hutton - The Trimpell
Daniel Coulthard - Bay Insurance Brokers
Ray Wilkinson - Northern Lights, Sound & Lighting Systems
Heather Brown - Baby Sensory Lancaster, Lune Valley & Wyre
Rob Heathcote - The Robert Gillow
Malcolm Martin - Employer Solutions
Alison & Trevor Bargh - City Block
Lyndsay Nicholson - Riverside Accountancy Lancaster
Kirsty Lawson - Firths Jewellers
Gail Johnstone - Turning Point Theatre Arts
David Lund - SafeNetics
Georgi Thorns - Northern Heights Dance & Aerial Limited
Anna Sullivan - The Exchange Designer and Vintage Dress Agency
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Hide AdAndrew Barker - Bowerham Hotel, Owls Nest & Station Hotel
Katy Mashiter - Gatehouse Print
Caroline Sharpe - Caroline’s Lashes
Geoff Crossley - Bay Healthcare
Neil Caines - Train Together Functional Fitness
Jan Rogerson - Marcos
Siobhan Courtney - The Eventus Recruitment Group
Aaron Crewe - novi.digital Ltd
Karen Carroll & Rick Latour - Ferncliffe Schnauzers
Candice Curran - Candice Curran PT
Christiane Crabtree - Nic's Beauty & Anti Ageing
Leanne Louis - Sweets To Your Door
Tina Lynch - TFL Fitness
Laura Duncalf - Neuro Drop In
Liz Saidi - Cafe Dolce
Joanna Cameron - The Creation Station
Dominic Waterhouse - Waterhouse
Amanda McGuire - The Park
Annabel Lee - Annabel's Beauty Spa
Richard & Caroline Binks - The Silverdale Hotel
Andy & Joanne Martin - The Fox & Goose
Tracy Cody - Hogarths
Barry & Fiona Robinson -Longlands Hotel & New Inn at Yealand
Laura Horan - Study Rooms
James Cocker & Alan Hempton - Quarterhouse
Imogen Jolley - Simpson Millar Solicitors
Harriet MacArthur - Main Course, Starters & Puds Too
Catherine Holl - Bowerham Barbers CJ’s
Simon Auty - selectweb computers
Phil Humpage - Abbeycoombe Accounting Services Ltd
Andrew Gregson - The Bobbin
Shelley Rose - Shelley Rose Hairdressing
Michelle Catto - Central Dance Academy
Jackie Payne - DF Studio Hair & Beauty
Jennifer Mayor - Jennifer's Dancers
Phil Liley - Bathtime Northwest Ltd
Paula Baker - Eden Music
Simon Guilfoyle - Ace Computers
Gerry Foote - Gerry's Fishing
Dave & Suzie McVernon - Alex Willis Funeral Home
Barry & Fiona Howarth - Lancaster Wine Company
Rosie Prest - Foxholes Country Pursuits
Gail Ford & Denise Bonnick - Tao Experts in Hair
Liz Saidi - Cafe dolce
Sarah Boak - The Hair Spa in Bolton-le-Sands
Fiona Benn - The Longlands, Tewitfield and The New Inn Yealand
John & Lisa Mason - Lancaster District magazine
Nick Wilkinson - Lune Properties
Kelly Murgatroyd - Prestige Health & Beauty
Steve Atkin - Hala Pet Stores
Hannah Horner - The Borough