Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen is today (October 10) calling for more support for businesses crippled by coronavirus lockdown rules as it emerges the Tees Valley is expected to go into tier 2 restrictions.
The details of the new tiers, expected to be officially announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday, have been communicated to Northern political leaders and chief executives.
Mayor Houchen has been told it is highly likely the whole of the Tees Valley will be placed into the second tier of restrictions, similar to those rules already in force in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, when the new system comes into force.
Tier 1 restrictions are expected to be similar to the rules currently in place in Darlington, Stockton and Redcar and will see the ‘rule of six’ and other national social distancing measures remain in place.
Tier 2 restrictions will be as per the rules currently in place in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, with the exception that two households will be able to meet in a private garden, up to a maximum of 6 people in line with the ‘rule of six’ and other social distancing measures.
The more severe tier 3 restrictions are expected to run in four-week blocks. Pubs and bars will be required to close and no household mixing will be allowed for socialising either indoors or outdoors.
No overnight stays will be allowed outside of the tier 3 restricted area for residents, and no overnight stays will be allowed within the restricted area for those living outside it. Travel will only be allowed outside the tier 3 area for essential reasons, but schools, colleges and retail will all remain open.
As a result of the expected changes, Mayor Houchen is calling for more support for businesses who will be affected by the tier 2 level restrictions. Under these rules, businesses won’t be legally required to close and therefore won’t have access to the new financial support, but due to restrictions on households mixing, these firms are likely to struggle without some additional financial backing.
Yesterday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced financial support for workers and businesses who will be required to close under tier 3 restrictions. This included the Government pledging to cover two thirds of an employee’s salary who can’t work because a business is required to close, as well as cash grants for those firms legally required to shut.
Mayor Houchen said: “The Chancellor announced some more unprecedented support for workers and businesses yesterday and I know this will be welcomed by so many people across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool who will have been concerned about how the new regulations would impact them.
“However, with further restrictions set to come into force in the Tees Valley in the coming days, especially for our hospitality businesses, it is essential that more support is given to firms impacted by tier 2 restrictions. Many of the fantastic hospitality businesses we have in our region will not be eligible for this new support as the rules will not legally require them to close, but due to a ban on households mixing, they will suffer a significant fall in customers and trade.
“Whilst nobody wants to be under local lockdown for a moment longer than is absolutely necessary, it is vital we take the appropriate steps now to get the virus back under control. By stepping up our fight we can keep as many people as safe as possible from the virus but also make sure our children can keep going to school and businesses which are covid-secure can remain open.
“If we don’t suppress the virus now, there may have to be another damaging national lockdown – and nobody wants that. The impact on everyone’s livelihoods and physical and metal health would be catastrophic.
“With my wife testing positive for the virus this weekend, I am all too aware of the impact it can have on families, and I know there are many more people in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool who have suffered much worse than me, so I urge everyone to pull together and follow the rules so we can get through this and get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
