Protect economy if we move to tier three warn Blackpool MPs

It is understood Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre councils want to avoid being put into the tier three ‘very high’ category of Covid risk as they balance the needs of the economy with protecting health.

No changes were made to Lancashire’s status by Health Secretary Matt Hancock when he made his statement in the Commons on Thursday, but further announcements could be made today..

Blackpool North and Cleveleys MP Paul Maynard said: “I’m content we remain in tier two but we need to monitor cases very carefully and if it moves up substantially we will need to move into tier three.

“But that would require a proper package of financial support across all those sectors which the regulations require to close.”

Mr Maynard said he believed the council was doing its utmost to ensure the town was Covid safe.

He added: “The three hotels I have spoken to this morning have all had a visit from the council’s Covid task force this week.

“Enforcement teams are checking premises and that’s why there have been no clusters in the hospitality sector so far.”

He said there needed to be a balance between protecting health and the economy but warned the long term damage from shutting the town down would be “too awful to contemplate” .

Claire Smith, president of hoteliers group StayBlackpool, also called for Blackpool to remain in tier two.

She said: “If we can just scrape through until after the October half-term week that would make a huge difference to many businesses in the town.

“Every weekend we get helps our cause, but after October much of the tourism in the town closes for the winter.

“I think tier two is where we should be right now. It’s going to depend on numbers in the hospital.

“But now people know how critical it is, people will be more aware. We must now be following all the guidelines and cleaning everything to the nth degree.”

Blackpool South MP Scott Benton said Blackpool’s prolonged season meant the impact of potential further restrictions would be felt by its hospitality trade more than in other parts of the North West.

He said discussions were ongoing and added: “The feedback I’m getting from businesses is they would like to be able to stay open certainly through the Illuminations.

“However if there is a mandatory closure, there has to be an adequate support package and those are the discussions I have been having all week.”

With negotiations still ongoing over Lancashire’s lockdown status, a spokesperson for Blackpool Council said they could not comment on the situation at this stage.