Strict rules stay as Slough faces tougher Tier 3
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Slough will face the strictest coronavirus restrictions when lockdown ends and the country moves to a revised tier system on Wednesday.
The borough’s high infection rates saw it placed in the toughest category, Tier 3, by the Government yesterday (Thursday).
It means pubs and restaurants can only open for takeaway services and households will not be able to mix indoors or in most outdoor spaces.
Indoor entertainment venues must remain closed, while spectators will not be allowed to return to sport grounds.
But there will be some relief from the current lockdown measures, with non-essential shops, hairdressers and gyms allowed to reopen.
Slough is the only local authority in Berkshire to be placed in Tier 3, with neighbouring Windsor and Maidenhead in Tier 2.
It means pubs can reopen in the Royal Borough, but they can only serve alcohol with substantial meals.
Households cannot mix indoors, but groups of up to six will be able to gather outside.
Sports fans will be allowed to attend games, albeit with restricted numbers.
The leader of the Royal Borough has urged residents to ‘be sensible and take care’ after it was revealed the area will be in Tier 2 COVID19 restrictions when lockdown ends next week.
This means that pubs can remain open – if they serve substantial meals – and sports teams can allow fans to attend games with restricted numbers.
But residents cannot socialise with anyone outside of their household or bubble in indoor settings.
Tier 2 restrictions – known as ‘High Alert’ – require people in Windsor and Maidenhead to follow a number of guidelines (see above).
The tier system will be reviewed on Wednesday, December 16.
In a statement, Royal Borough leader councillor Andrew Johnson urged residents to ‘be sensible and take care’.
“We are constantly reviewing the situation, taking expert advice from our dedicated public health professionals and liaising with Government. We await further details about how the process works to move back to Tier 1,” Cllr Johnson said.
“There will be a temptation to get out and about as normal, but please be sensible, take care and look after yourselves and loved ones.”
Lisa Byrne, landlady at The Jolly Gardeners pub in Old Windsor, said she was ‘devastated’ when watching the news unfold yesterday.
Having not yet received any grant money and only being able to furlough one member of staff, Lisa says she is reluctantly going to ‘give it a go’ when she is allowed to open her doors again.
While she normally serves Thai food on certain evenings, she is confused as to when and how she reopens – with guidelines requiring her to serve substantial meals when trading with alcohol.
“It does not make any sense having restaurants full of people eating, but you can’t have a pub with people drinking,”
Lisa said.
“You are not going to not catch COVID because you have got a sandwich in front of you.”
She added that pubs have taken the biggest hit when it comes to restrictions.
“We are just bearing the brunt of everything else,” Lisa said.
“We seem to be the only places sticking to test and trace, but you can go into a supermarket and be with other people.
“The last month has been so hard not having any income.”
The debate over ‘substantial meals’ has also sparked confusion and concern, with ‘wet-led’ pubs like
The Jolly Gardeners being more centred on drinks.
“You can’t just serve a pasty, it has to be served with some chips or a side salad,” Lisa said.
“It has to be something you would order at a restaurant.”
Addressing MPs in the House of Commons yesterday (Thursday), Health Secretary Matt Hancock said ‘we must protect our NHS this winter’, adding restrictions were 'necessary given the scale of the threat that we face.’