Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s chief has written to residents expressing his ‘disappointment’ that the world will not be popping out of lockdown.
Councillor John Boyce has additionally despatched emails, seen by LeicestershireLive, to each the Well being Secretary Matt Hancock and Tory county council chief Nick Rushton who apparently suggested Mr Hancock to take away all county areas from the lockdown zone other than Oadby and Wigston.
In his letter to Councillor Rushton, Coun Boyce alleged the choice to maintain the Liberal Democrat-run borough in lockdown was made on “purely political grounds”.
The areas that are popping out of localised lockdown are all Tory-run, whereas the town, the place lockdown continues alongside Oadby and Wigston, is run by Labour.
Coun Boyce’s letter to residents says: “On the night of Thursday 16 July 2020, Matt Hancock MP, Secretary of State for Well being and Social Care, made a press release to Parliament giving an replace relating to the localised lockdown as a result of larger charges of Covid-19 circumstances within the Leicester and Leicestershire space.
“He introduced that lockdown measures would proceed in each the town of Leicester and in addition the borough of Oadby and Wigston to proceed to battle the unfold of the virus.
“This lockdown will stay in place for an extra two weeks when will probably be reviewed once more.
“There was some easing of restrictions. Some non-essential retailers will re-open however we’re ready for clarification and steerage on what these shall be. Colleges and nurseries will be capable of re-open. Nonetheless, bars, eating places and hairdressers will stay closed.
“I’m upset, and I do know you’ll share on this, that our borough can’t come out of localised lockdown.
“We have now made some progress to scale back the variety of circumstances, however it’s clear that the speed stays larger than elsewhere within the nation and we have to proceed to sort out this collectively as a Borough.
“It’s essential that all of us present resolve and fortitude and proceed to comply with the newest recommendation.
– Don’t journey until it’s completely important.
– Observe the social distancing of two metres when you do should exit.
– Not more than 6 individuals can meet as a bunch exterior.
– Wash you fingers often and for greater than 20 seconds.
– Put on a face masks the place required.
– Testing – please take a look at our social media and web site for the newest data.
“Defending our residents stays our precedence. All our actions play a key function in serving to us come out of localised lockdown. I urge individuals to heed the recommendation and play their half in serving to to avoid wasting lives and livelihoods.
“Keep Secure.
“Regards,
“Councillor John Boyce, Chief of the Council.”
Nonetheless, a unique tone was taken for his e-mail to Coun Rushton after Mr Hancock revealed: “The Chief of Leicestershire County Council, Nicholas Rushton, has suggested me, based mostly on the information and one of the best public well being recommendation, that he recommends these restrictions now apply solely to the Oadby and Wigston space of Leicestershire, in addition to the town of Leicester itself.
“And I’ve accepted his recommendation.”
Coun Boyce’s letter to Coun Rushton reads:”Expensive Nick, I’m extraordinarily upset in your obvious recommendation to the Authorities.
“It was acknowledged you suggested them to take away all different areas of the county out of lockdown and explicitly excluded Oadby and Wigston. You didn’t have the great manners to speak to me or talk your recommendation. It is a full slap within the face to the residents of this borough.
“It will have been acceptable to ascertain a good and clear system to evaluate the chance. You both failed to do that, or on the very least to speak it.
“The one conclusion I can come to is the choice was made on purely political grounds.
“Regards
“John Boyce
“Chief, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.”
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And to the Secretary of State, Coun Boyce stated: “Expensive Matt Hancock, I’m the chief of Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.
“I would really like you to right the incorrect assertion you made within the Home of Commons this afternoon. You acknowledged that you just had consulted all council leaders. That is clearly not true as you and I’ve by no means spoken. As you will notice from the hooked up e-mail I used to be not consulted by the chief of the county council both.
“The choice to not embrace different areas of the county is flawed. Both there may be an goal measure by which that is judged or there may be not.
“The borough is in a greater place relating to Covid than a number of the areas you launched right this moment. Should you launch them so you need to launch us. As I state on the finish of my e-mail to Nick Rushton this seems to be a straight and surprising political determination.
“Please rethink your determination instantly.
“Regards
“John Boyce
“Chief, Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.”
For all the newest lockdown information, click on here.
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