I am sure we are all getting used to the restrictions that apply to us in the Moorlands. I am writing this piece before we know the outcome of the review of restrictions on December 16, so it is possible that the Moorlands may not be in Tier 3 anymore. But in any event, the impact of the restrictions on our pubs, restaurants and cafés cannot be overstated. And as an area that welcomes many tourists, the restrictions around overnight stays have been devastating to far too many of our local hotels, guesthouses, holiday parks and cottages.
In order to give what support I can to our hospitality and tourism businesses, I have hosted a number of virtual meetings. Cllr Sybil Ralphs MBE, Leader of the District Council has been on the calls, as have representatives from other local authorities, the North Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce and Hospitality UK. Other North Staffordshire MPs have also taken part.
One way that we can all help to get the Moorlands into a lower tier is by taking part in the new phase of targeted community testing. There is undoubtedly a problem in our area with people who are infected with Covid but who have no symptoms, spreading the virus to others. Now that there are rapid-turnaround tests – the lateral flow test that can give a result in 15 minutes –asymptomatic Covid positive people can be identified and can take steps to reduce the spread to others. I pushed to make sure that the Moorlands was in the first wave of these tests, so it was great to see us included in the list of just 67 local authorities selected. Combined with the rollout of the vaccine being led locally by the Royal Stoke, there is now some light at the end of the tunnel.
