It appears towns such as Ilkley and Silsden won't be removed from local coronavirus restrictions if they remain in place across the Bradford district.
Last week, the government said local councils in areas with extra restrictions in place would have to work together with MPs to make decisions on whether certain areas could be removed from the blanked Bradford-wide rules.
Proposals to change the local restrictions would be then submitted to the Joint Biodiversity Centre (JBC) Silver meeting, chaired by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), on Wednesday, for a decision at the JBC Gold meeting, chaired by the Health and Social Care Secretary with the CMO, on Thursday.
Additional restrictions have been in place across Bradford district - as well as Calderdale, Kirklees and parts of Greater Manchester and East Lancashire - since 31st July, and are aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19 between households.
Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore told Rombalds Radio last Friday that he believed the data should be used to drive decisions and enable some areas to be taken out of the restrictions. The latest figures still show no recent cases of coronavirus in Ilkley, Craven and the Worth Valley.
But today Bradford Council has announced that it believes any restrictions in place should apply to the whole district because otherwise there would be 'confusion' and it would be 'impossible to enforce'.
The latest data for the period 16th to 22nd August (pictured above) shows no cases still across the Ilkley, Silsden and Haworth areas, and a total of 19 cases across four wards in the Keighley area (Utley 3, Riddlesden and East Morton 5, Keighley Central & East 7, Keighley South 4). A number of Bradford wards still have more than 10 cases in the last week and one - Heaton Highgate - reported 20 cases of the virus.
Despite this, the council appears to want the whole district to be removed from the additional restrictions that have been in place for the last four weeks.
A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Having reviewed the data, which shows a decrease in infection rates this week, and consulted widely with partners through the Outbreak Management Board, Group Leaders and the district’s five MPs the Council’s view is that any restrictions which apply should apply to the whole district.
“We wish to move to national restrictions, to reopen gyms and to be effectively supported to ramp up testing and contact tracing and to target deep community engagement in wards of greatest concern.
“The view in the Outbreak Management Board was that restrictions should apply to the whole district in acknowledgement of the high levels of interdependence within the district in terms of travel to work areas; school, college and university catchments; acute and secondary care catchments; and use of various facilities across the district.
“The board also felt there was potential for disproportionate and further confusion, and potential for perceived unfairness, which might lower compliance levels. Geographical differences would be impossible to enforce and would distract attention from core activity of comprehensive local testing and contact tracing.
“Group Leaders agreed that the whole district should revert to national restrictions and that sports facilities should be allowed to reopen. This would allow for all energies to be concentrated on deep targeted engagement with communities on social distancing, hand hygiene and mask wearing, supporting businesses with COVID secure operation, and increasing comprehensive local testing and contact tracing.
“All five MPs expressed their concern about ongoing levels of infection and the need for targeted work and were very clear about what was best for their respective constituencies.
“We will now wait for the Government to consider the local leadership’s view and make its decision about future restrictions in the Bradford district.”
The Outbreak Management Board is made up of all the partners in the district with whom Bradford Council is working on a daily basis to tackle the virus – the Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Foundation Trusts, West Yorkshire Police, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, University of Bradford, Bishop of Bradford, Council for Mosques, Bradford District Voluntary Sector Assembly, Bradford Economic Partnership, trade unions and local councillors.
Developer's bid to change planning condition on Silsden housing estate raises concerns
Local young dancers chosen for production of Swan Lake
South Craven plans to join East Lancashire schools in new Trust
Council increases library fines for first time in a decade
A-list celebrities support Brownies Bookmark Project
Heat Pump & Solar Panel Open Day in Ilkley on Saturday
Armed Forces Brew Up to take place at Airedale Hospital
Friends of Ilkley Moor announces AGM
Lidl seeks new stores in Ilkley, Skipton and Keighley
Ilkley Civic Society raises concerns over proposals for Changing Places Toilet
Countdown to “spectacular” Mardi-Gras themed Ilkley Carnival begins!
Craven Museum shortlisted for major national award
Tributes paid to 14 year old killed at weekend in Keighley crash
14 year old boy dies in Keighley road crash
New acoustic lineup announced for Ilkley Pride 2024
Skipton events planned to mark D-Day 80th anniversary
Your guide to the elections taking place this week
Ilkley Harriers' charity races in Honour of former coach
Anita Lall appointed Principal at Craven College
Police step up patrols after vandalism in Glusburn
