Lancaster calls for Covid-19 Tier separation from Lancashire as district records lower than national average rates

Businesses and organisations across the district have asked that the Lancaster City Council area be judged on its own statistics, rather than be grouped in with the county of Lancashire as a whole.
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Pub landlords, restaurant owners, solicitors, security firms, small businesses and shops have all signed a joint letter which has been sent to the county representative for Public Health England as well as Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council.

Phil Simpson, from Lancaster Brewery, has written the letter on behalf of a huge list of businesses and organisations from across the Lancaster City Council area, representing the "economic heart of Lancaster and Morecambe", and employing many hundreds of staff.

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The letter calls on the government to treat the Lancaster district separately to the rest of the county when England emerges from the current lockdown on December 3.

Lancaster is asking to be treated differently than the rest of the county when England emerges from lockdown.Lancaster is asking to be treated differently than the rest of the county when England emerges from lockdown.
Lancaster is asking to be treated differently than the rest of the county when England emerges from lockdown.

It argues that the Covid-19 infection rate figures for the Lancaster district are not only significantly lower than the county average, but also well below the national average.

The letter reads:

"The purpose of this letter is to request that the Lancaster City Council area be judged on its statistics, not simply grouped in with the performance of Lancashire County Council as a whole.

"Last week I and others petitioned businesses to support this objective and this is what they agreed.

Lancaster city centre.Lancaster city centre.
Lancaster city centre.
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"Since the start of this pandemic, companies and organisations in the district have worked in tandem with Lancaster City Council to implement and adhere to the strictest hygiene protocols.

"Many of the more robust procedures introduced nationally in summer 2020 were already commonplace in our area.

"Our diligence and efforts contributed to this area’s consistently low infection levels. However, like many other university towns in the UK we endured a spike in our infections levels in the September and October period and we believe most local people understood the necessity for the introduction of the Tiers and the more recent lockdown.

"Happily in the days and weeks since the start of the Tiers and lockdown, we’ve seen a steady and consistent drop in the infection levels across the Lancaster City Council area. The efforts and sacrifices made by the people of our region have been rewarded with infection levels that are currently below the national average and substantially below the average levels in the North of England.

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"When we emerge from the current lockdown, expected on the 3rd of December, if the Lancaster City Council district infection rates are significantly lower than the rest of the county then we believe we should be treated separately to the rest of Lancashire County Council.

"We’ve already proven we are different. When Lancashire moved into Tier 2 on the 14th October 2020, the infection level in the Lancaster City Council district was substantially lower than the rest of the county. Our Covid infection rates are currently half the Lancashire average and a quarter of the levels in the highest areas in the county. Importantly, the Lancaster City Council district is distinct to the rest of the county. Over 20 miles from any other large population centre, it operates as a separate economy, with a separate retail sector, separate health care provision and a separate hospitality sector. It is a key factor in explaining why our infection levels have never risen to the heights of other parts of the county.

"We have been successful as a district in lowering infection levels due to the hard work and strict adherence to the rules. The businesses of this region have played an important part in reducing the risks to our local population. However, we’ve also suffered financially and the fates of many businesses, and their hundreds of employees, now hang in the balance. It is vital that this district, after having achieved excellent results in mitigating the impact of the virus, not be punished further for their efforts.

"We in the Lancaster City Council district are not seeking any special treatment. As an area we should be judged in exactly the same way as any other part of England. Yet there is precedent for separation. Barrow Borough Council was in a different tier to the rest of Cumbria and, despite higher infection levels than the Lancaster district, Blackpool was excluded from the Tier 2 restrictions.

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"Please don’t damage the Lancaster and Morecambe economy with any more restrictions than are absolutely essential. If we deliver it, reward our success. Rather than be judged on the success of more distant locations like Burnley and Skelmersdale, it is vital that we are assessed on the basis of the performance and the needs of our district.

We urge you to work to ensure that the principles of separation of Lancaster City Council district from Lancashire County Council be agreed prior to the end of the current lockdown.

Best regards

Phil Simpson

Lancaster Brewery

On behalf of the following representatives and owners of local businesses and organisations:

Claire Tomlinson - John O'Gaunt

Rob Mason - Quite Simply French

Kim Robinson - The Royal Hotel

Esther Stepaniuk - The Brown Cow

Adrian Walsh - Printing.com

Mike Brandwood - George & Dragon

Mick Hoyle - Squires Pool and Sports Bar

Patrick Hall - Tipple Cocktails

Peter Harrison - FGH Security

Andrew Neale - Fine & Country

Rachel Wright - The Waterwitch

Tim Tomlinson - The White Cross, Merchants, Stonewell Tavern

Adam Parton - Moore & Smalley

Sam Jones - Generation, Fibbers, Greenland Farm Village

Paul Roberts Jr - Glow

Dominic Leighton - The Three Mariners

Simon Longley - The Tap House

Linda Young - The Horse & Farrier

Carl Johannessen - Jigsaw PFM Lancaster BID

Mark Diggle - Diggles

Alison Stainthorpe - CancerCare

Paul Cusimano - Joseph & Co

Jon Davis - The Golden Lion

Paul Tarry - The Wagon & Horses

Pablo Aguilar - Kanteena

Joe Ruddock - The Toll House

Tom Robinson - The Wobbly Cobbler

Mike Gibson - Miralis

Bruno Buccelli - Buccellis

Tiffany Moore - Renes Fashion

Carl Neal - Mint

Jake Clark - EI Security

Lisa Sadler - The Auckland Hotel

Kathleen Simpson - Giggles Play & Adventure

Debbie Ellershaw - The Exchange, Morecambe

Simon Barton - The Cornerhouse

Jayne McCarten - Lancaster Cricket & Sports Club

Sandra Cottam-Shea - SCS Logistics

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Robert Mee - LGBT Out in the Bay, Lancaster & Morecambe Pride Jenny Pape - Azets Lancaster

Travis Hunter Dunlop - The Mad Hunter Lancaster

David Osbaldeston - Merchants 1688

Abi Denby - Stonewell Tap

Tim Barbary - Brittlestar Wine Bar & Coffee House

Bru Wood - The Palatine

Gemma Carradice - The Sun Hotel & Bar

Chris Duffy - The BrewHouse & Tap

Gary Forster - UK Bathroom Store

Fiona Tanton - Fiona Tanton Freelance Hairdresser

Pam Bowman - The New Melbourne Pub

Christine Whitaker & Susan Probert - Beauty154

Guy Cookson, Charlie Haywood, Aidan Watt - Hotfoot Design

Mike Dent - Accidental Brewery & Micropub

Tony Backhouse - RFM Business Consulting

Louiza Rabouhi - Louiza Rabouhi Design

Dan Knowles - D & S Knowles Consulting Ltd

Paul Aisthorpe - Scale Ability Ltd

Shay Walsh - MMA Lancaster

Richard Townend - Heysham Cricket Club

Debbie Cook - The Bridal Collection of Lancaster

Ruth Wilkinson - The Consult Centre

Mike Hutton - The Trimpell

Daniel Coulthard - Bay Insurance Brokers

Ray Wilkinson - Northern Lights, Sound & Lighting Systems

Heather Brown - Baby Sensory Lancaster, Lune Valley & Wyre

Rob Heathcote - The Robert Gillow

Malcolm Martin - Employer Solutions

Alison & Trevor Bargh - City Block

Lyndsay Nicholson - Riverside Accountancy Lancaster

Kirsty Lawson - Firths Jewellers

Gail Johnstone - Turning Point Theatre Arts

David Lund - SafeNetics

Georgi Thorns - Northern Heights Dance & Aerial Limited

Anna Sullivan - The Exchange Designer and Vintage Dress Agency

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Andrew Barker - Bowerham Hotel, Owls Nest & Station Hotel

Katy Mashiter - Gatehouse Print

Caroline Sharpe - Caroline’s Lashes

Geoff Crossley - Bay Healthcare

Neil Caines - Train Together Functional Fitness

Jan Rogerson - Marcos

Siobhan Courtney - The Eventus Recruitment Group

Aaron Crewe - novi.digital Ltd

Karen Carroll & Rick Latour - Ferncliffe Schnauzers

Candice Curran - Candice Curran PT

Christiane Crabtree - Nic's Beauty & Anti Ageing

Leanne Louis - Sweets To Your Door

Tina Lynch - TFL Fitness

Laura Duncalf - Neuro Drop In

Liz Saidi - Cafe Dolce

Joanna Cameron - The Creation Station

Dominic Waterhouse - Waterhouse

Amanda McGuire - The Park

Annabel Lee - Annabel's Beauty Spa

Richard & Caroline Binks - The Silverdale Hotel

Andy & Joanne Martin - The Fox & Goose

Tracy Cody - Hogarths

Barry & Fiona Robinson -Longlands Hotel & New Inn at Yealand

Laura Horan - Study Rooms

James Cocker & Alan Hempton - Quarterhouse

Imogen Jolley - Simpson Millar Solicitors

Harriet MacArthur - Main Course, Starters & Puds Too

Catherine Holl - Bowerham Barbers CJ’s

Simon Auty - selectweb computers

Phil Humpage - Abbeycoombe Accounting Services Ltd

Andrew Gregson - The Bobbin

Shelley Rose - Shelley Rose Hairdressing

Michelle Catto - Central Dance Academy

Jackie Payne - DF Studio Hair & Beauty

Jennifer Mayor - Jennifer's Dancers

Phil Liley - Bathtime Northwest Ltd

Paula Baker - Eden Music

Simon Guilfoyle - Ace Computers

Gerry Foote - Gerry's Fishing

Dave & Suzie McVernon - Alex Willis Funeral Home

Barry & Fiona Howarth - Lancaster Wine Company

Rosie Prest - Foxholes Country Pursuits

Gail Ford & Denise Bonnick - Tao Experts in Hair

Liz Saidi - Cafe dolce

Sarah Boak - The Hair Spa in Bolton-le-Sands

Fiona Benn - The Longlands, Tewitfield and The New Inn Yealand

John & Lisa Mason - Lancaster District magazine

Nick Wilkinson - Lune Properties

Kelly Murgatroyd - Prestige Health & Beauty

Steve Atkin - Hala Pet Stores

Hannah Horner - The Borough