Tougher virus restrictions are not yet needed in town, says MP
THE people of Ashbourne appear to be against the idea of introducing tougher coronavirus restrictions in the Derbyshire Dales, following a test of the local mood on social media.
The district’s MP Sarah Dines told followers on Facebook she has been liaising with Derbyshire County Council, which is currently planning for parts of the county to move to Tier 2 restrictions.
She asked her followers what they thought of the Derbyshire Dales moving to Tier 2, and announced she would be against it based on current statistics in the Derbyshire Dales.
She said: “I received an update on the county council’s planning in relation to the possibility of Derbyshire County or parts of it going into Tier 2 restrictions.
“In Derbyshire Dales and our part of Amber Valley we are the lowest Covid-affected area in Derbyshire but numbers are rising.
“What do you think about going into Tier 2 everyone?
“I am of the present view we should not go into this tier until, and only if, the numbers start to increase very rapidly, as am I keen to keep our local businesses and economy going.
“Other local MPS think we should go into it now. What do you think?”
Of the dozens of people that responded, an overwhelming majority were against moving to Tier 2.
The post was repeated on the Ashbourne Covid-19 Community Support Group by former mayor Ann Smith and an even larger majority spoke out against moving to Tier 2.
These restrictions would put the district, including Ashbourne, on a “high” alert level.
It is currently at “medium” and in Tier 1.
Under Tier 2, residents would only be allowed to meet one other household in their own “bubble” indoors and people will be asked to restrict their journeys.
Last week we reported there had been 77 new cases in the Derbyshire Dales in the week leading up to Monday, October 16 while there have been 122 in the last week, leading up to
Monday, October 26.
This increase puts the district’s rate per 100,000 population at 168.7. There have now been 632 cases recorded in the Derbyshire Dales.
More locally, in Ashbourne South, there was a rise of five cases in the last week, but a sharper rise was recorded in the small Ashbourne South ward, with 12 new cases.
However, the area is still one of the safest in the county, with fewer cases than any other district.
Against the overall 632 cases in Derbyshire Dales, Derby has seen 3,460; South Derbyshire 1,225, Amber Valley 1,395 and High Peak 1,355.
Parts of Nottinghamshire have now been placed into the “very high” risk Tier 3 category.