'Keep us out of tier 3': Cheshire East councillors plead with Prime Minister
COUNCILLORS have called for Cheshire East to be placed under tier two restrictions once lockdown is lifted.
Labour and Conservative politicians have united in their call for the government to keep the borough out of "highest risk" tier three.
That would keep hospitality venues closed and dash hopes of fans being readmitted into elite sport stadia before Christmas, including Crewe's Gresty Road.
Cllr Tony Dean believes tier two is suitable for Cheshire East, which is where the borough had been placed before the second lockdown came into force on November 5.
But the Knutsford Conservative warned "if we have not gone down or if there has been a spike then we will be tier three".
But an encouraging sign is that the effects of the lockdown appear to have taken affect across the borough with infection rates falling. Over the last week there were 641 people testing positive for coronavirus (up to yesterday, November 23), a drop of 202 (24%) on the previous week.
Yesterday (Monday) 59 people tested positive for Covid-19.
Many Cheshire East councillors are backing the Primer Minister's plan for "Five days at Christmas", although they accept the medical evidence that point to it triggering another spike in infections with the potential for a third lockdown in the new year.
Cllr Dean added: "The idea of a break at Christmas — all the medical people are saying that it will create a spike, depending on how people behave — but that is acceptable because people need a break.
"I go along with that. I think it is right that we do need a break. I am looking forward to five days at Christmas with my family.
"I just hope that the regulators get on with it now and get down to making the decision to approve these vaccines and get on with injecting it – including to people like me!"
Middlewich councillor Carol Bulman added: "I think I am in favour of allowing everything to open up again in tiers until Christmas and those that want to see people should be able to visit friends and family.
"I am a fan of the Scottish system where you can have two families together. It is more humane. We have got a vaccine near so it is worth the risk."
Cllr Bulman also called for more rapid testing kits to be rolled out in order to help families see those in care homes.
She said: "I do think by now we should have the hourly test so people can go to care homes if they want to visit on Christmas day.
"We should be getting tests to the care homes so people can visit and see loved ones."
The council is expected to learn which tier it will be placed in on Thursday, November 26.
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