Lockdown talks after weekend
CALL FOR COUNTY TO AVOID ANY MOVE TO TIER 3
NORTHUMBERLAND should be treated as a “special case” and not subjected to Tier 3 restrictions according to a council boss.
This comes after a previously-arranged meeting between council leaders and Government to discuss the North East’s infection rates and the progress under Tier 2 was cancelled yesterday.
But it is now understood local authority leaders and ministers will be meeting on Monday to discuss lockdown restrictions.
At present the North East is in Tier 2, meaning pubs and restaurants must close at 10pm and two households are unable to meet indoors.
Mixing of households can take place but with no more than six people and in an outdoor environment.
As a meeting hasn’t happened yet, it is not known if this will change.
Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said Northumberland should be a “special case” because of its lower cases.
He added: “The actions we have all taken in Northumberland and indeed across the region have helped to stabilise what was a rapidly escalating situation.
“I have made it clear to ministers and officials that should Tier 3 be imposed on the region we will strongly oppose this for Northumberland, based on our current figures, which show an improving situation.
“The current restrictions are tough enough for everyone, our families, our businesses and for the county as a whole, and I believe that Northumberland should be a special case should Tier 3 be considered.
“Ultimately decisions about which tier we are in will be made by Government, but the health and wellbeing for the whole of Northumberland is our top priority.”
Data from PA Media shows the number of new cases of coronavirus have slowed in the region with Newcastle reporting 313.1 cases per 100,000 in the seven days up to October 18, down from 466.6 the previous week.
In County Durham, cases fell from 338.1 to 329.2, in North Tyneside they fell from 251.5 to 210.7 and in South Tyneside they fell from 245.1 to 235.1.
But in Sunderland cases rose to 321.9 from 299.2, in Gateshead cases were up from 255.4 to 258.8, In Northumberland, cases remained at 175.5.
Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said that overall the region has a “positive story to tell”, and said delaying the meeting would put leaders in a stronger position.
He said: “Across the board we have a positive story to tell and if this [meeting] gets pushed back into next week our position gets stronger.
“I think I am expecting it [the meeting with ministers] to take place next week, and I would prefer it to take place next week because we would be in a better position.
“Last week we had a really mature discussion about what the data was telling us.
“The Local Authority 7 areas of the North East are showing stabilisation because we put some measures in place some weeks ago.
“The figures in Tees Valley are rising so I am hoping that Government aren’t going to club together the Tees Valley and the Local Authority 7 as a whole.
“We were advised by our directors of public health that we need more powers and we made a difficult political call and we have been vindicated.
“We might go into Tier 3, but we have a chance of avoiding it.”
Gateshead MP Ian Mearns said that the region should be given more decision making powers.
He added: “We’re made to be on tenterhooks, waiting for a call in case ministers want to have a meeting with us.
“We could save them that level of consultation if they gave resources to local authorities and local directors of public health and let them get on with it.”