Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has welcomed news that he will be involved in this week's decision to extend or relax the coronavirus restrictions in place for his constituency.
The localised restrictions have been in place since 31st July and cover the whole of the Bradford district, even though the data suggests there have been no new cases of the virus in Steeton, Silsden, Addingham, Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale recently.
In a Zoom call with Robbie, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he wanted interventions to be ‘more targeted’. At present, councils have discretion over which geographical areas the restrictions apply to. The change means authorities must now seek a consensus with local MPs on the boundaries. The Joint Biosecurity Centre Gold meeting, chaired by the Secretary of State with the Chief Medical Officer, will then make the final decision based on the local recommendation, or if no consensus is reached it will make the decision itself.
Mr Moore says thousands of residents have contacted him about Bradford Council’s continuous recommendations to include the whole of the Keighley and Ilkley constituency within the restricted area. He says many are frustrated by the ‘blanket’ policy approach in which the restrictions just follow the local authority boundary.
Robbie said: "Many people in areas like Ilkley and Silsden, where the ‘R’ rate is significantly lower than other urban areas in the district feel their areas should be excluded from the additional restrictions. Some rural areas like the Worth Valley are also included in the restricted areas, despite having no recorded cases of Covid-19 at all.
“At present, it is frustrating that Bradford Council’s recommendations to government seem to be opting for ease over logic, which is having a negative impact on tens of thousands of residents. Gyms remain closed, families are missing out on seeing loved ones and many businesses are losing out as people are staying at home, despite the area they’re in being no more at risk than other parts of the country.
“I’m glad the government have now asked local authorities to liaise with MPs, so that all voices are taken into account when a recommendation is put forward, rather than sticking with the current approach with seems quite arbitrary. Placing restrictions on people is having a major impact on their daily lives, so these decisions should be based on data, rather than a broad-brush approach which just follows a local authority boundary.”
Listen to Robbie Moore MP speaking to Rombalds Radio's Stuart Clarkson on Friday 21st August:
The government says it expects councils to engage with MPs immediately and seek a consensus recommendation to the Joint Biosecurity Centre Silver meeting chaired by the Chief Medical Officer on Wednesday, for a decision at the Joint Biosecurity Centre Gold meeting on Thursday.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “To prevent a second peak and keep COVID-19 under control, we need robust, targeted intervention where we see a spike in cases. The only way we can keep on top of this deadly virus is through decisive action led by the people who know their areas best, wherever possible through consensus with a local area.
"Our approach is to make the action we take as targeted as possible, with the maximum possible local consensus. To do that we are introducing a new process to increase engagement between local leaders, both councils and MPs, with the aim of taking as targeted action as possible.
"This will allow local councils to focus resources onto the wards which need more targeted intervention in order to drive infection rates down, and gives local people a stronger voice at the table."
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