Disappointment at Devon's tier 2 rating

Many councillors worried about business impact

Council leaders across Devon have said placing the region in tier 2 ‘high alert’ will cause irrevocable harm to local businesses.

Some councillors say the news will be ‘desperately disappointing’ and for many people in the drinks-only hospitality industry, they must be feeling near desperation at the prospect of what looks like a further lockdown. And they have slammed the historic under-funding and reduction in hospital capacity that is one of the reasons why Devon has been placed in tier 2, despite some districts having the lowest rates of anywhere in England.

Explaining why Devon has been placed in Tier 2, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, said that the case rates are 121/100,000 overall, although there are higher rates in Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter. He added that the case rate in the over 60s is 85/100,000, though significantly higher in Exeter at 155.9/100,000, and there is pressure at the RD&E Hospital.

Cllr Judy Pearce, leader of South Hams District Council said: “ I am really disappointing that South Hams will placed under tier 2 restrictions.  In spite of low and decreasing infection numbers locally, pressure on local hospital facilities has been quoted as a reason.

“Local authorities from the south west have been lobbying to increase hospital capacity for years, but governments of all hues have never listened to us.  There will be irrevocable harm to local businesses in the run up to Christmas as a result of our district being placed under tier 2 restrictions and this concerns me greatly.”

Teignbridge Council leader Cllr Alan Connett said: “I’m hugely disappointed for Teignbridge, and even more saddened for the businesses that will be adversely affected by this decision. Whilst this news brings some hope for many of our businesses that they can open up again, our drinks-only hospitality industry must be feeling near desperation at the prospect of what looks like a further lockdown for them.

“We want to help these businesses as much as possible to diversify their offer, to enable them to work within the rules and reopen wherever possible, and also through our businesses grants and other support, so I’d encourage them to get in touch. We want to help and will where we can.

“We’re very unlucky that we’ve been placed in a higher tier than many expected, and it does feel like a slap in the face for everyone who has worked so hard to keep our infection rates low, keep our high streets and businesses Covid safe and stick to the rules. But what we need to focus on now is keeping our rates down, helping get our NHS through this critical period, and supporting our local communities to recover.

Cllr David Worden, leader of North Devon Council said: “Although it wasn’t unexpected, we’re obviously disappointed to be placed in tier 2, knowing what an effect it will have on our community. Our numbers are starting to come down but we are still above the average for Devon and we need each and every person in North Devon to strictly adhere to the guidelines, keep their distance, wash and sanitise hands regularly and not mix with other households so we can get back to tier 1 at the earliest opportunity.”

Cllr Paul Arnott added: “It is deeply distressing for Devon to be marooned in tier 2. Despite campaigners – including me – warning the government for many years that to continually shrink our local hospital capacity was dangerous, we now find ourselves in tier 2 mainly because of inadequate current and projected NHS capacity. The RDE is down a thousand staff, and more locals beds no longer exist.

“Non-Conservative councillors have been begging and pleading on this topic for years through the DCC Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee at DCC but the Tories consistently refused requests to go into battle to prevent the loss of East Devon’s community hospital beds.

“Now, our poor local businesses and employees – indeed our entire local economy – will pay the price for the failure of those Tories at Devon County who were not prepared to put the blue rosette to one side and tell truth to power.”