Worries over tight restrictions impact on hospitality industry

ROCHDALE council leader Allen Brett has spoken of his fears for the hospitality industry after it was confirmed Greater Manchester will come under tough new ‘Tier 3’ restrictions when national lockdown ends.

The new rules - which come into force from

December 2 - mean that pubs and restaurants will have to remain closed, although they will be allowed to offer takeaway and delivery services.

It is yet more worrying news for the sector, which has taken a huge financial hit during the pandemic.

Reacting to the government’s decision - and what it means for Rochdale - Coun Brett said his main concern was for the hospitality industry and businesses which depend on it.

He said: “What I want is more detail and are they going to continue to give support to all the businesses that are affected, especially hospitality?

“Hospitality is what I’m most worried about.

“I visited a manufacturing firm that makes equipment for the hospitality industry and they have already cut their workforce from 18 to nine.

“They do a lot of work for Mitchells and Butlers and Young’s in London and have had to half the workforce over the last few months.”

The decision to place Greater Manchester into Tier 3 - which has the most stringent restrictions - was announced by health secretary Matt Hancock in the House of Commons this morning.

Despite falling infection levels across Greater Manchester

- with two boroughs now below the England average - Coun Brett said he was ‘not surprised’ by the news.

But he wants a clear road-map for how Rochdale and the rest of the region gets out of Tier 3 and into more relaxed restrictions.

“I will accept it, but we need to be given parameters of when we come out - what’s the level to come out of Tier 3 into Tier 2 and then into Tier 1,” he said.

Rochdale’s coronavirus infection rate fell by 31pc during the week to November 21.

It now stands at 360.6 per 100,000 people, compared to the England average of 208.7.

The Greater Manchester boroughs with the lowest infection rates are Trafford and Stockport, which recorded 170.6 and 208.6 respectively.