Chorley leader says Tier 3 deal was done "on the cheap"

The leader of Chorley Council says he will be pushing the government for more money to help Lancashire cope with the county's new Tier 3 Covid restrictions.
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Various businesses will close this weekend as a result of the rule change - which has been the subject of intense negotiations between Downing Street officials and Lancashire's local authority leaders for a week.

Non-food-serving pubs and bars will close tonight (16th October, Friday into Saturday) – with bingo halls, casinos, bookmakers, soft play areas, licensed clubs and adult gaming centres all following suit on Sunday night.

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The county secured a £42m Tier 3 funding package - £30m more than the standard government offer for its population size.

Chorley Council leader Alistair BradleyChorley Council leader Alistair Bradley
Chorley Council leader Alistair Bradley

That is still some way short of the additional £58m it was requesting – £5.2m of which was wanted on a recurring monthly basis.

The county was refused permission to retain £50m in unspent business support grants – out of more than £350m given to Lancashire councils at the start of the pandemic – which leaders had wanted to use to create a discretionary fund for businesses directly or indirectly affected by moving into Tier 3.

However, it is understood that some of the overall £42m package coming the county’s way will be used for that purpose.

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Chorley leader Alistair Bradley says he will continue to call for more money to help businesses in the borough - and he also wants to see people unable to work because their place of employment is closed receive 80 percent of their pay, rather than the two thirds pledged by the government.

“I think we can all see the government is trying to do this on the cheap and we won’t accept that here in the North West.

“We will be looking to support those businesses who are forced to close or rely on the businesses that have been forced to shut - and those who will suffer as a result of the additional restrictions.

“I’ve been calling on the government all week to make sure the funding and support is in place for the local businesses being forced to close and those in the supply chain who will be equally affected.

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“Like other leaders in the North West, I don’t think the package is enough but I realise we can’t standalone as an island in the county because the infection rates are rising more quickly in other places so we’ve reluctantly accepted to move into Tier 3.

“As we always do in Chorley, we will look after our businesses and my message to them is not to panic,” said Cllr Bradley, who also urged residents to remember the rules of social distancing, face coverings and hygiene.

District leaders in neighbouring Preston and South Ribble condemned the government for threatening more closures and a less generous settlement for any areas within Lancashire that refused to accept Tier 3 status.

At a press conference following the deal with the government, Lancashire County Council leader Geoff Driver said he would be “very surprised” if some of the £42m allocated to Lancashire was not used to make more generous payments to some workers whose employers have to close while the county is in Tier 3.