Council leader attacks ‘nonsense’ of inconsistency on gym openings
BRADFORD COUNCIL’S leader says it is “nonsense” that the city’s gyms cannot reopen, but those in areas with higher Covid infection rates can.
Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe called for the Government to rethink its restrictions that were keeping Bradford’s gyms shut.
She said there appeared to be a “lack of consistency” in the Government’s approach to high infection rates in different areas of the country.
On July 30 the Government announced that new restrictions would be placed on Bradford, as well as areas including Calderdale and Kirklees, due to high infection rates. It would prevent people from different households from meeting up in homes or gardens, or meeting with other groups in places such as pubs and restaurants.
An additional restriction imposed on Bradford was that indoor gyms and sports facilities would remain closed. At the time many were preparing to reopen for the first time in months.
The move has proved hugely unpopular, with many pointing out that while people were being encouraged to visit Bradford’s pubs and restaurants, they were unable to visit gyms to keep fit.
These restrictions are still in place, and Coun Hinchcliffe has called for the Government to end the tougher restrictions on Bradford’s gyms.
Separately, council leaders in Kirklees are facing increased pressure to relieve lockdown restrictions in areas largely unaffected by the coronavirus.
Tory MPs Mark Eastwood and Jason McCartney want an urgent meeting with Council Leader Shabir Pandor and Chief Executive Jacqui Gedman to identify a “consensual view” of the Covid-19 situation in the borough.
They want that to be presented to a silver meeting of the Government’s Joint Biosecurity Centre tomorrow prior to being taken to a gold meeting chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty for consideration. However no timescale for a local meeting has been given, and there are fears that time is running out for the opportunity to relax restrictions in some parts of the borough.