Harborough set to stay in Tier 3 zone over Christmas and into the New Year, district council leader is warning

Harborough is set to stay in the highest Covid-19 Tier 3 zone over Christmas and into the New Year, the district council leader is warning.

Cllr Phil King spoke out as Harborough will be told on Thursday if it will be left in Tier 3 rather than being promoted into the less-severe Tier 2.

The Conservative council chief said he was “very pessimistic” as the rate of coronavirus infection in Harborough has climbed again to 148.2 cases per 100,000, the latest Public Health England figures show.

Dozens of cash-strapped pubs and restaurants throughout the district will have to stay shut except for takeaways and delivery if Harborough is held in Tier 3.

Talking hours after London and a huge swathe of the south-east were lifted into Tier 3, Cllr King told Monday night’s full council meeting: “I attended the regional Covid briefing about Tiers last week.

“Although the final announcement is not expected until Thursday this week, I am very pessimistic that we will move Tiers.

“It remains finely balanced.

“But given that the rates of Covid-positive test results have started to increase again in the last few days, I am anticipating that Harborough district will stay in Tier 3 until at least the next review in mid-January.”

The worried council leader called on the Government to “provide more support to our hard-pressed hospitality businesses to prevent their extinction”.

“We are all responsible by our individual actions and collectively for playing our part in getting and keeping the rate of infection down.

“As hard as it has been we need to keep going now, to see this through so that in the spring we can emerge from the pandemic strictures to recommence our lives and rebuild our local economy and communities,” declared Cllr King.

He said council staff had filled him with “immense pride” as they rose to the challenge of tackling the unprecedented Covid-19 challenge.

“Not just the magnificent response of our staff to the initial crisis in mid-March.

“But their ongoing adaptability to the changing daily edicts from central Government while at the same time carrying on with the day-job, business as usual,” said Cllr King.

“It’s been a truly remarkable achievement that we have only had to defer a very small number of corporate projects to the next business year.

“This has been a truly superb team effort by staff and members.

“Not just at this council, but right across the district and wider area there have been innumerable acts of personal sacrifice that have gone under the radar.

“I’m sure that none of us can forget the community response when the first national lockdown was announced for the 23rd March.

“Within hours, a plethora of voluntary support hubs and groups had been set up via social media, with dozens of volunteers ready, willing and able, to support their local communities and help the vulnerable who had to shield, or those who had to self-isolate.

“It was the great ‘British spirit’ but turbocharged,” insisted Cllr King.

“It’s the case that many of these groups and volunteers are still actively supporting individuals who need help within our communities and Harborough District Council, along with other partners, continues to do all it can to help them for as long as it’s needed.”

He saluted NHS frontline staff along with the 999 emergency services for their brilliant work during the nine-month health and economic crisis.

“But many others in less high profile roles have also performed and continue to play a critical part in the ongoing response to the pandemic,” said Cllr King.

“From care workers, lorry and delivery drivers, warehouse staff, bus and train staff, taxi drivers, shop staff, market traders, postmen and women, to small business owners, IT and tech suppliers, broadband suppliers, mobile phone companies.

“There are many more I can list.

“But without these people or companies, much of what we have managed to do would not have been possible.

“When, in a few days’ time, you are having your Christmas celebration, I urge you to join with me and charge your glasses to all of these unsung heroes.

“Real heroes who are out there working 24/7 to make sure that supermarkets and other shops are stocked up, to get your gifts delivered, to make sure that you remain safe and warm in your home,” said Cllr King.

“Thanks to each and every one of them for all that they have done and all that they have yet to do.

“I wish everyone in Harborough district a Covid-safe Happy Christmas and New Year.”

Cllr Phil Knowles, who leads the council’s Liberal Democrat group, replied: “2020 has been a very bad year, a truly awful year.

“But some amazingly good things have come out of it.

“There have been a lot of people out there you wouldn’t normally class as heroes – the people who live next door to you.

“Two words sum up my reaction to them – admiration and gratitude.”

But he warned: “A lot of our small businesses across Harborough are on a knife edge.

“We have got to support them and the Government too.

“Or a lot of them might not be here this time next year.

“I’d also like to thank our council staff and our members – they have all been working very hard.”