Politics are put on hold after election ban

THE boss of an awardwinning pub says the government’s policy towards entertainment venues during the coronavirus crisis has been “barking mad”.

Mike Jones, director of Casked in Rawtenstall, says licensees across the Valley were stunned by the Prime Minister’s advice to customers to stay away from pubs, restaurants and theatres.

It comes as the death toll across the county continues to steadily rise.

This week the Bury Road pub received its award for CAMRA Pub of the Year 2020 for Rossendale for the second successive year, but celebrations soon fell flat.

Mike said they were “really chuffed” to win the real ale award, but like many small businesses are now facing an almighty struggle to avoid laying off employees and possible

ALL local, mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections due to take place this year have been postponed for 12 months because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The government said the situation made it impractical to allow voting to go ahead on May 7, because it was likely to coincide with a peak in the spread of the virus.

Rossendale council leader Alyson Barnes said: “It’s incredibly frustrating as local democracy is so

●» Amanda and Mike Jones, directors of Rawtenstall-based bar Casked and (right) the award-winning staff oblivion.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mike said: “Everybody we have got working for us now is part of that award; we have been a really strong team. But yesterday they gave us the news that the PM was recommending people to stay away from pubs, restaurants, and bars.

“Certainly if we voluntarily close the doors and are not forced to, it would void any chance of getting insurance. If the government don’t push out some measures of financial assistance important but I fully support that decision. Rest assured though, all councillors will continue to work hard for their constituents.”

Rossendale Conservative group leader Coun Peter Steen questioned the length of the delay.

He said: “Whilst I understand central government feel the need to postpone elections until the situation settles I feel 12 months is rather drastic; the Autumn would to my mind been more realistic. A then we are going to die a death of a thousand cuts, with people vilifying us for staying open. If we have to close we are going to need some serious help. They’ve offered business rates help, but that’s about £60 a week, which is a drop in the ocean.”

Mike’s comments were made before the government unveiled a £330 bil lifeline package to support the UK’s economy.

He added: “I’m gutted. Lots of things have been said, but the fact is this is a further delay could have been put in place if necessary.

“From a local perspective I feel disappointed for local residents who are denied the opportunity to change the direction of Local Government in

Rossendale, disappointed for a fantastic bunch of candidates who have been working hard throughout the winter talking to residents to canvass opinions of the direction RBC should be moving.

“On a wider perspective crisis for the world. People are losing their lives. I understand the reason behind it, but I think the Prime Minister’s statement has left everything up in the air. All the licensed business owners are up in arms about it. I suspect a lot of the smaller businesses won’t come back. If it’s going on for three or four months we won’t be able to survive.

“We don’t have a firm scenario, but we have a recommendation [from government] for customers to ignore us. It’s barking mad it would appear Government has decided that there will be a Lancashire Combined Authority as early as 2022/2023, along with it an East Lancashire Unitary Authority subsuming RBC. Does this mean next year’s County Council elections will be put on hold?

“As the ancient Chinese curse has it ‘May you live in interesting times.’”

Police and Crime Commissioner Clive Grunshaw said the postponement of the poll to do this. Everybody is going to be selfish in this, but it’s not just pubs, bars and restaurants. What about the little gift shops, the cafes? Rawtenstall just got itself kicking on and made something of itself.”

Mike said he was expecting a quieter than usual week this week, but the government to “pull the plug” in the next week to 10 days.

He added: “We have been blessed with a lovely customer base and most of them have said they will continue to support us as was “the only sensible option”.

He said: “We all need to focus our efforts now on public health and supporting the most vulnerable, not fighting elections.

“My office will continue doing everything we can to ensure that services continue and people are kept as safe as possible.”

His Tory challenger for the post, county councillor Andrew Snowden said: “Whilst it’s hugely disappointing that the long as they are able to. We will try our damnedest to keep our staff on the payroll, but it will purely come down to can we afford that.”

There were 19 confirmed cases of coronavirus across Lancashire as of Tuesday, although the real number of cases is believed to be far higher. A more localised breakdown is no longer being made available as the numbers rise.

The NHS has moved to cancel all non-emergency surgery after the UK-wide death toll climbed to 71. election has been cancelled, as we had such a positive plan to make Lancashire safer, people’s health and well-being should always come first.

“There will be huge sighs of relief from the Labour camp - from the PCC down to local councillors - who had been put on notice by voters for simply failing to deliver what communities across Lancashire need. We’ll see them at the ballot box in a year’s time.”