Fears new restrictions will have 'devastating' impact on Black Country hospitality industry
New lockdown restrictions banning people from meeting in pubs and restaurants will have a "devastating" impact on the hospitality industry, MPs have warned.
The new restrictions come into force in Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell and Birmingham from tomorrow, after they were all classed as tier two "high risk" areas under the Government's new three-tier system of alert levels.
Under the new rules, people living in these areas can no longer mix in any indoor setting.
However, people can now meet outdoors and in private gardens - up to a maximum of six people.
The move has been slammed by politicians and business leaders across the region, particularly in Wolverhampton, where the infection rate is below that of many other places which have escaped restrictions.
Jane Stevenson, the Tory MP for Wolverhampton North East, said: "I welcome the Prime Minister’s commitment to work on a local level, and I hope he’ll understand my disappointment that Wolverhampton has been lumped into a tier two system, despite the protestations of all three MPs and the local council.
"My fantastic pubs and restaurants in Wolverhampton North East have done everything asked of them, and now because they are in tier two they face no financial support at all and a devastating effect on their viability. Can he urgently look at this?"
Corin Crane, CEO of the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, said: "We desperately need government to offer a proper strategy that includes substantial financial support evidence for businesses that may now face devastating restrictions.
"There is an increasing feeling of chaos and confusion with this constant stream of leaked announcements and policy proposals without evidence to back them up.
"Speculation and rumour have badly eroded trust between Westminster, local government and our business communities."
Councillor Ian Brookfield, the leader of Wolverhampton Council, said: "The Government has made this decision and there is no backing away from this higher band that we have been placed in.
"I want to see the city move out of this level as quickly as possible, because we know that the new extra restriction on the hospitality industry will cause further devastation around the city.
"The danger is that we could end up in the highest band, which would really finish hospitality off in our city."
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden, said he was frustrated by a lack of flexibility on the Government's part.
"Our Director of Public Health in Wolverhampton, John Denley, has been clear with local MPs that the issue with local infection rates was household transmission," he said.
"For that reason there is broad support for the household restrictions in place but scepticism about additional measures on hospitality.
"The city had asked the Government if the household restrictions could stay in place without additional restrictions on hospitality but that request was refused by Ministers.
"It seems that whatever the local circumstances, the Government wanted to put each area into one of three boxes with no flexibility to vary things locally."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, said: "I have always argued that data and evidence should lead decision-making, and I therefore find it very surprising that the West Midlands, with an average infection rate of 123 per 100,000, is now in the same tier as Manchester, which has an average infection rate of more than 550 per 100,000.
"Reflecting on this, I am very disappointed that the Government has not found a more flexible approach to our situation.
"Whatever the changes, the most important thing remains defeating this deadly virus.
"Therefore we must continue to follow the full guidance for the sake of everyone’s future health."
'Medium' risk in Staffordshire and Dudley
Dudley and Staffordshire have been placed in the tier one "medium" alert category, meaning current standard national measures apply.
Cabinet member and South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson, said: "I am pleased that Staffordshire has been placed in tier one, but we all have to continue to remain vigilant.
"To defeat this virus we have to work together right across the region. That means taking precautions and doing all we can to stop the spread of the virus."
Michael Fabricant, the Conservative MP for Lichfield, said he was relieved that the county had escaped extra measures.
"I hope it stays that way," he added. "Infection rates are rising, and unless the people of Staffordshire pull together and take the Prime Minister's announcement as a warning, we will also find ourselves in a higher risk category."
Sir Bill Cash, Tory MP for Stone, praised the "common sense" of people in the country for helping to keep infection rates lower than in many other areas.
"Social distancing and self-discipline are crucial aspects of maintaining this relatively stable situation. I am in touch with the relevant local authorities in monitoring the situation regularly, and there are some areas of concern.
"It is essential that we pull together to ensure that we do not have in our area – and hopefully elsewhere – a continued upward surge in this invisible enemy."
Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley, said: "I'm pleased that Dudley has been left in tier one, which shows that we are doing an outstanding job in trying to contain the virus.
"All credit to the people of the borough for doing their bit to comply with the restrictions.
"We need to continue to follow the rules, and if we do that we will avoid going into the tougher restrictions that some other areas have had imposed on them."
In the seven days up to October 10 the rate in Wolverhampton was 96.4 per 100,000 people, with 254 cases.
In Dudley it was 71.8 with 231 cases. It was 126.8 in Walsall – 362 cases, 145.6 in Birmingham – 1,662 cases, 111.4 in Sandwell – 366 cases, and 94.9 in Staffordshire – 835 cases.
