Enjoy the freedom – but stay vigilant
THE leader of Kirklees Council is advising people to stay cautious and vigilant as lockdown eases and pubs and restaurants reopen after a three month hiatus.
Clr Shabir Pandor said: “This weekend is set to be a milestone in our country’s fight against Covid-19.
“With restaurants, pubs and hairdressers set to reopen alongside our retailers, it feels like we are moving into a new phase of the pandemic.
“The council is responding quickly to the new national guidance.
“Over the next few days and weeks, residents will also be able to start using sports pitches again, children will be able to have fun in our playgrounds and bowling greens will welcome players once more.
“As... we welcome the return of many aspects of everyday life, news from other parts of the country shows just how fragile the situation is. We are not out of the woods yet.
“I’ve always said that the safety of local people has to come first and it’s clear that we all need to maintain caution and vigilance. Too many people have died, lost loved ones or made huge sacrifices for us to rush back to normal without thinking of the consequences. The danger is still there, the virus is extremely potent and highly dangerous and will take lives.
“The council is taking a considered approach as we reintroduce more of the services local people really value.
“We need to think about how we can bring back services that keep people safe but we’re more ambitious than that. We need to challenge ourselves to deliver services that are better than they were in March.’’
Clr Pandor added: “Councillors will shortly be looking at services in every part of Kirklees to see how we can restart them in ways that meet local needs as well as being accessible to as many people as possible.
“Council services are just one piece of jigsaw for Kirklees’ recovery. We need to support businesses so our economy can bounce back more strongly and be more inclusive than it was before.
“We will host a series of online conferences over the coming days to help business navigate their new environment and we will support them in making changes and accessing the help they need to survive and thrive.
“We will also be opening up a conversation about how we can support volunteers and community groups to reintroduce the facilities and amenities that often support the most vulnerable in our communities.’’
“Our recovery from Covid-19 will be more important than the immediate crisis. It will affect more lives and livelihoods in more long-lasting ways,’’ the leader said.
“The council will be working with people, businesses and organisations across Kirklees to lay foundations for a recovery that means we come back stronger.”