Our rural areas are ‘more at risk of job cuts’
‘Divide to widen between cities and countryside’
RURAL AREAS are more vulnerable to the impacts of coronavirus when compared to England’s major cities, a new report has warned, with more than half of jobs across two Yorkshire areas deemed to be at risk.
Work commissioned by the Conservative-dominated County Councils Network (CCN), which represents all 25 county councils and 11 county unitary authorities, has found the pandemic will widen the divide between countryside and city areas without targeted investment and new powers for political leaders.
The CCN’s research found in the two Yorkshire areas included in the study – North Yorkshire and the East Riding – there are 220,250 people working in the ‘at risk’ sectors such as accommodation and food services; arts, entertainment, recreation and other services; and retail. In North Yorkshire and the East Riding, 55 per cent of all employment is in the ‘at risk’ category.
County leaders say they should be given powers to aid economic recovery.
Meanwhile, it was revealed last night that laws underpinning restrictions in some parts of West Yorkshire amid rising virus cases had not yet been implemented, four days after the announcement.
Bans were placed on people from different households meeting in Bradford, Calderdale, and Kirklees from Friday last week.
When the changes were announced, officials said new regulations were needed to make them legally enforceable. Guidance stated it would be against the law for people from different households to meet in a private home or garden – unless part of a support bubble – and warned of £100 fines for those who flout the rules. Officials said the laws were due to be signed off and published later that night.
But yesterday afternoon the Department of Health and Social Care said it has yet to implement laws bringing the rules into force.
A spokesman said the department was trying to make the changes legally enforceable as soon as possible, but insisted the rules still applied from July 31.
Meanwhile, with Ministers set to unveil a fresh drive for devolution deals in the White Paper in September, county leaders say that the Government should grant them powers, particularly over transport and skills, that metro mayors currently have, otherwise their efforts in economic growth will be hamstrung.
Coun David Williams, the CCN’s chairman and the leader of Hertfordshire County Council, said: “There is a real risk the pandemic simply exacerbates the long-standing economic divide between county areas and the major cities, with urban metro mayors having more powers and resources at their disposal to address the impact of coronavirus.”
ENGLAND’S OLDEST blood plasma donor, who has enough antibodies to help others fight coronavirus, has urged fellow virus survivors to help the campaign.
Malcolm Shaw, 72, from the Wirral, has become a plasma donor as part of a new trial. He is calling on other coronavirus survivors to donate vital blood plasma.
Mr Shaw, who spent eight days in hospital with the virus having caught it at the beginning of April, donated for the fourth time yesterday.
The former consultant cancer nurse said he was “very happy” to be told his antibody levels are high and added that he intends to keep donating for as long as he can.
Mr Shaw, who worked as a lead cancer nurse in Guernsey before retiring with his wife to the Wirral, said: “To anyone, I would say if you feel able to donate, please do. It could really make a difference to someone’s life. Donating is straightforward and you are sure to receive a warm welcome from the care team.”
Mr Shaw’s call to action follows on from the urgent appeal issued for recovered coronavirus patients to donate their blood plasma in a bid to help the NHS treat people who fall ill during a potential second wave.
Men especially are being encouraged to help, after analysis reported in June showed that they produce more coronavirus antibodies than women, making them better plasma donors.
Previously The Yorkshire Post reported the number of appointments booked each week as part of the ongoing NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) convalescent plasma collection has dropped by almost half in the past month, with fewer eligible donors as the number of new infections fell in lockdown.
People can offer to donate by calling 0300 123 23 23.