From Safest Town in the Country to Tier 2 in 2 Weeks!

I just don't believe it, from living in the safest town in England and Wales (blog) to living under Tier 2 COVID-19 restrictions next week! What has the second lockdown done to Hastings in just a couple of weeks?!? I really do fear for our Hospitality Sector, and fear that Hastings may become a Ghost Town by the return of the tourists next year. Anyway, I felt I should write to our MP requesting she stand up for the town and her constituents, basically, do her job!  

My letter is reproduced below, if you want to write to her go this website.

I shall let you know how she replies, anyway, my letter:

Dear Sally-Ann Hart,

COVID-19 Latest Tier Restrictions

I brought myself to write to you because I am very concerned that the people of Hastings are being treated unfairly by Her Majesty's Government, and as our Member of Parliament, I would be very grateful if you would help defend this wonderful historic town, and its inhabitants.

Before the COVID-19 crisis descended upon us even, we have been treated unfairly, with the Central Government Revenue Support Grant awarded to Hastings being reduced from £14 million in 2010/11 to nothing nothing since April 2019. Indeed, the Government's 'The Indices of Deprivation 2019' stated that Hastings was the 13th most deprived area in England, from among the 317 local council areas in the country, and the most deprived local council area in the South East!

The unemployment rate locally was higher than the national average at the start of the COVID-19 'lockdown' from March, and is only rising, sadly, due to the restrictions deemed necessary to halt the rise of that virus. However, the local economy is highly dependent on tourism, and the hospitality sector was hit significantly by its closure. As you'll be aware, the hospitality sector in Hastings prospers, and ensures employment, during the warmer months of the year, but 'lockdown' and the loss of holiday periods such as Easter, and numerous festivals that bring visitors, consequently money, into the town, including Hastings Week, the Seafood & Wine Festival, the Herring Festival, and May Day and 'Jack in the Green' have all been lost to businesses in the local Hospitality Sector.

When the 'lockdown' ended early in July, with Hastings one of the safest places to live in the country with respect to COVID-19, the local Hospitality Sector looked at the latest rules regarding COVID-19, dusted itself down, and brought in vigorous supervision of customers, spending much money on ensuring 'mitigations' such as reducing the numbers that could enter premises by losing/moving furniture, taking details of customers for tracking and tracing, providing hand sanitizer, staff safety wear and serving at table, regular cleaning of their premises and toilets, sanitizing tables between customers, the list could go on, but they adhered to Government advice. Indeed, only a few didn't, and were suitably closed for periods by Police and the local authority to help them get their act together.

Since July, Hastings, in Tier 1, has continued to maintain a much lower than average number of cases of COVID-19, indeed, at the beginning of the second 'lockdown' we had the lowest incidence of COVID-19 in England and Wales, being 31.3 cases per 100,000 (2nd November).

How is it that, after a couple of weeks of 'lockdown' the Government has decided to move Hastings from Tier 1, when it became the safest place to live in England and Wales, into Tier 2 from next week? Surely this means the Government's strategy isn't working, when, during 'lockdown' the position got worse apparently? Yet Government figures appear to be suggesting the rise in infection rates has leveled off with signs of falling numbers.

When this comes before Parliament next week, I trust you will stand up for Hastings and your constituents, and defend our Hospitality Sector so that, and hopefully we shall see the Summer of 2021 be something close to normal for tourism, there are still some businesses remaining open to benefit, please let's not allow Hastings to become a 'Ghost Town.'

I look forward to receiving your support for Hastings in Parliament, and your comments, many thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Covid-19 Hospitality & Other New Rules

So, from Thursday last (24th) Government rules regarding pubs, bars and restaurants, and elsewhere, changed significantly from when I first wrote a blog about their guidance regarding Covid-19 and the hospitality sector way back at the beginning of July. Face Coverings must now be worn by all hospitality sector staff, and staff in shops, and, unless sitting at a table, all customers in the hospitality sector must wear a face covering when entering the premises, standing up, going to the lavatory, and leaving premises, indeed, customers may only be served whilst sitting at a table, and pay from the table. Fines on customers can reach up to £3,200, doubling for each offence from an initial fine of £200, and pubs, bars and restaurants will be shut down if not ensuring rules are  met, eg regarding wearing face coverings, social distancing, or allowing more than 6 people be seated together (for more detailed information see the latest rules).

In addition, people visiting hospitality premises must not flit from table to table, or group to group, but must stay at the one table, even if their long-lost Uncle Bob turns up unannounced with another group of customers. From what I've heard so far, only a few people have been forgetting to wear a mask and ignoring other rules, but one would hope they learn quickly if they want to eat and/or drink socially outside of their homes!

And a wee reminder that if you want to drink at the Bier Garden on Hastings Pier, their hours are slightly different until it closes again next Sunday and, subsequently, this is the penultimate weekend that you may enjoy the privilege (see blog).

Have a nice weekend, at least it's stopped raining! 😉