New Milton Advertiser 4th Dec 2020

4 · Friday 4th December 2020

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Local MPs rebel against newCovid tier system

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l Disappointment over area’s new Tier 2 level l ‘Stay local’ plea as shops and services reopen l Retailers allowed to trade 24 hours a day

always work safely, the Tier 2 restrictions will have a serious- ly damaging effect on the New Forest economy and our ability to recover into 2021,” he told the A&T. The area’s theatres and mu- seums have reopened, includ- ing St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington. The newly refurbishedRegent was due to open today (Friday), promising a big-screen line- up of dazzling Christmas pro- ductions, including a magical Christmas Spectacular filmed especially for cinemas from the Royal Albert Hall in London. At Ringwood’s Forest Forge, the youth theatre will be re- turning to sessions within the building. However, there will be no Christmas show. Earlier this week, communi- ties secretary Robert Jenrick announced shops in England will be allowed to trade 24 hours a day in the run-up to Christ- mas and throughout January. Local authorities will tempo- rarily be able to waive rules re- stricting retail opening hours to enable high streets to recover. A spokesperson from New Forest District Council said it would support any retailers wanting to amend their opening hours “where circumstances and leg- islation allow”. Ferry operator Wightlink will resume its weekend sailings be- tween Lymington and Yarmouth from tomorrow (Saturday).

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Before the debate Sir Des- mond, of New Forest West, told the A&T that while some sectors, including retail, could breathe a sigh of relief, the rules spelt disaster for hospitality. “This is an industry which has gone to enormous and ex- pensive lengths to make itself secure,” he said. “I was one of those who de- manded the evidence that these venues are a source of infection and the estimate of lives saved consequent upon the restric- tions imposed on them. No such data has been forthcoming.” There was also disappoint- ment at being in Tier 2 from Cllr Nicola Greene, BCP Coun- cil’s cabinet member for Covid resilience and public health – but she urged people to follow the rules. They are due to be reviewed by the government on 16th December. Cllr Greene said: “We are dis- appointed to be placed in Tier 2, given the continuing fall in infection rates in our area, thanks to the positive behav- iours of local people who have been diligently following the rules and helping to control the virus.” Hospitality venues would normally be gearing up for their busiest time of the year. In- stead, they are being forced to stop serving at 10pm and can only serve alcohol with a “sub- stantial meal”. Anthony Climpson, from tourism group Go New Forest, TWO people died with Covid-19 in the New Forest, according to the latest weekly report, as the district infection rate plummeted to one of the lowest in England. Both fatalities were in hos- pital, revealed the latest data published on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Last week six people were reported to have died. It puts the coronavirus death toll in the district at 148. However, the number of new weekly coronavirus cases in the New Forest on Tuesday fell by more than half from 184 to 77, according to separate govern- ment figures. It brought the to - tal cases so far to 1,849. The infection rate per 100,000 people also dropped – from 102.2 last Tuesday to 42.8 this week, one of the lowest in the country. By comparison, the England average was 162.3.

BY LIZ HENDRIE

ALL three local MPs voted against the government’s new tier regulations which came into force on Wednesday as the New Forest’s infection rate fell to one of the lowest in England. The people of Dorset and Hampshire are in the midpoint Tier 2 – the high alert level. Shops, restaurants, hotels, hairdressers, leisure centres, churches, community centres, museums and libraries have re- opened, but rules around social distancing and household mix- ing are as strict as before. Both local Conservatives, Sir Desmond Swayne and Sir Chris Chope, rebelled against Prime Minister Boris Johnson to vote against the new region-based rules to replace the lockdown across England. Independent Julian Lewis also opposed them. 19 Fir Avenue, New Milton • Double glaze your whole house

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Shops will be allowed to trade 24 hours a day in the run-up to Christmas and throughout January

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slammed the measures as “dra- conian”, telling the A&T: “This is an industry with an almost spotless Covid-19 track record. “The New Forest itself has a much lower transmission rate than the rest of Tier 2, and the UK’s hospitality sector the low- est of all commercial sectors at just 2%.” Many businesses do not have the space to make re-opening financially viable, Mr Climp - son continued, and if they do choose to re-open they are “in effect being forced to gamble with their future”. In the BCP Council area, which includes Christchurch, there were 13 deaths of which 11 were in hospital, compared to nine in total last week. It brought the death toll across the conurbation to 261. The provisional figures from the ONS relate to fatalities where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate up to 20th November but which were registered up to 28th November. The BCP area also saw a fall in new weekly Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, from 691 to 379. It means the infection rate per 100,000 stands at 95.9, down from 174.8 the week before. The total number of cases so far amounts to 7,224. The infection figures are for the numbers of people with at least one lab-confirmed posi - tive Covid-19 test result in the preceding seven-day period.

Matthew Lawson, chair of New Forest Business Partner- ship, urged residents to sup- port hospitality venues and lo- cal retailers. “As the owner of two New Forest hospitality businesses, I know that even though we

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Tier 2, high alert: key restrictions l No socialising in any indoor setting with anyone you do not live with, or who is not in your support bubble. l Places of worship can open but no socialising with people outside your household while indoors.

l No more than six people should meet socially outside (the Rule of Six). l Hospitality venues can only serve alcohol with substantial meals, must provide table ser- vice only, stop taking orders at 10pm and close at 11pm. l Public attendance at spec- tator sport and business events can resume inside and outside, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1,000 people indoors.

l Weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers: 15 for weddings and 30 for funerals. l Organised outdoor sport and exercise classes can con- tinue. l If you live in a Tier 2 area, you must continue to follow Tier 2 rules when you travel to a Tier 1 area. l Avoid travel to Tier 3 areas other than where necessary. l Work from home where possible.

Two deaths as weekly infection rate plummets

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Covid marshals start New Forest patrols

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FOUR specially trained Covid marshals began patrolling the New Forest area on Wednesday. Dubbed “Covid Safety Am- bassadors” (CSAs) by the dis- trict council, they will patrol town centres, parks and train stations to make sure people are following the rules. A spokesperson for NFDC confirmed it had been allocated £71,000 from the government to raise awareness of Covid-19 and help with compliance. The council’s cabinet mem- ber for community affairs, Cllr Diane Andrews, said: “We have identified, with the help of our partners and other organisa- tions in the district, some local areas that may benefit from someone on hand to offer reas- surance and advice – for exam- ple, in high streets on market days, at busy schools, and at transport terminals. “The CSAs are not there to

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enforce any rare breaches, but if required, they will collaborate with other agencies on that. They are there to offer advice and reassurance to the public.” Jordan Saint, who usually works in leisure services, has been redeployed to become a CSA. They will have ID badges and will be wearing orange and black branded hi-vis jackets. He said: “I see my role as be- ing able to give a friendly re- minder and as someone to seek advice from.” Meanwhile, Dorset Police promised “swift and decisive” action, as it is running dedicat- ed Covid-19 patrols. Operation Tattoo started last month with a specially assigned force car patrolling the coun- ty seven days a week during the pandemic to deal with any virus-related issues. There is extended cover from a second unit between 4pm and mid- night every day. The announcement followed Covid-19-related calls to the force’s command centre rising to 164 during the second week of the last lockdown. More than 20 fixed penalty notices were is - sued for breaches. In Christchurch police re- sponded to reports at least 10 people were seen on a mul- timedia messaging app hav- ing a house party in breach of Covid-19 regulations. Amember of the public raised the alarm last Friday evening, saying the revellers had been pictured on Snapchat, but nothing was found when offi - cers attended the scene. Posting on the Dorset Po- lice Twitter account, a force spokesperson said officers would be returning to the area later in their shift. Four ambassadors, including Jordan Saint, will patrol areas of the New Forest

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