Blackpool launches Covid task force to reinforce resort's safety measures

The council will deploy a team of around 60 stewards and public protection officers at peak times on the Promenade and in the town centre.

It’s hoped the move will also stave off the threat of tougher lockdown measures.

Staff, who will operate alongside other agencies including the police, will also check businesses are complying with curfew times for bars and restaurants as well as track and trace measures.

The initiative, which was revealed at a meeting of the full council, is aimed at keeping people safe and protecting the economy.

Blackpool is also in line for its own local testing site which will be on Bank Street car park, near the train station.

Coun Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council, said: “The primary objective of this local initiative is to stop the spread of the virus and stave off the introduction of further restrictions that could have a damaging effect on the local economy and public morale.

“The stewards and officers will be out on the seafront and other parts of the town and will be highly visible.

“Their role will be to work with businesses and members of the public to provide guidance and support to ensure that all relevant local and national restrictions are being adhered to.

“Enforcement is the last resort, but it will be used if anyone is found to be deliberately flouting the rules and putting people at risk.”

It follows the announcement last week that Blackpool households are banned from socialising, enforceable by law, in addition to the nationwide 10pm curfew on the leisure and hospitality industry.

In the same week the Government also rolled out its QR track and trace app.

Dr Arif Rajpura, director of public health for Blackpool Council, added: “We have been delighted at the way in which most of our businesses have embraced and responded to the ever-changing restrictions.

“However, now more than ever is not the time to be complacent. Our challenge throughout this pandemic has been to protect the public health whilst also allowing our economy to open up.

“We are mindful that we are a tourism resort, and while there is no evidence of any direct links between increased infection rates and tourism, we will continue to put a high level of focus on ensuring that visitors and businesses do the right thing

“Given the implicit threat of more restrictions if the spread of the virus is not contained, it is vitally important that everyone plays their part.”

Chief Inspector Mark Morley, of Blackpool police, added: “The restrictions are there to try to protect the health of people and their families and friends and to stop the spread of the virus.

“Our officers will continue to be out and about and very visible in key areas – please remember we are here to keep everyone safe.

“We’ll continue to engage with people and explain the rules, but we do want to be clear that we will enforce them where we need to, especially around repeat offenders, significant gatherings and people who deliberately flout the regulations and put others at risk.”

Dr Rajpura told the meeting of the full council balancing health with the economy was vital “as we don’t want to damage the economy irreparably which would lead to inequalities and poor health down the line.”

He said the public health team was working hard to ensure businesses were Covid secure, and had been carrying out local contact tracing since the start of September.

He added: “We’re in this situation probably for at least the next six months so we need to manage things up to spring or until we get a vaccine.

“In the meantime it’s everyone’s responsibility to ensure we curb this infection.”

Chief executive Neil Jack responded to concerns raised by councillors about residents being unable to access testing sites in the town.

He said backlogs should be eased by new laboratory capacity nationally, and said Blackpool would be getting a local testing site at Bank Street car park although there is no date for that yet.