All of the District Council’s political groups have signed up to a joint statement calling on central government to ensure that the needs of local communities are fully considered as coronavirus lockdown eases.

The statement – issued by the leaders of the Conservative, Green, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups – calls on Secretary of State Robert Jenrick to review all strategies and regulations “to make sure that our communities are protected from uncontrolled excess visitor numbers that could contribute to a second wave of the virus”.

Read the full statement >>

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The Leader of Derbyshire Dales District Council is asking would-be visitors to think twice before making a trip to one of the most beautiful regions in England.

The relaxation by the Government of coronavirus travel guidelines means many people who live both inside and outside the area may be contemplating a trip to the Dales’ visitor hotspots.

But the Council’s Leader Councillor Garry Purdy said: “While I totally understand the temptation to seek some respite from the constraints placed on all of us by the coronavirus crisis, my appeal to anyone considering a trip is not to focus so much on what you can now do but rather what you should do.

“Visiting the Dales right now will undoubtedly create tensions in our communities as well as placing pressure on our roads and emergency services, and, as a former police officer myself, I have a massive amount of sympathy for the policing job now facing the force.

“I am fortunate to represent an area of the Dales that includes Matlock Bath, which is a magnet for tourists at this time of year, but I am asking visitors to respect and protect the residents of Matlock Bath and all of the district’s many honeypot villages by staying away for now.

“We will welcome you back with open arms when this virus is properly under control – our leisure and tourism businesses, most of which continue to be closed, need your support in the long term. But, for now, please don’t put our already limited local services under unnecessary pressure.”

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It has been brought to our attention that many of our most vulnerable residents may be missing out on essential support because they haven’t responded to a recent NHS letter, delivered to them as they are classed as being clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus.

Unfortunately, as a district council, we have no way of knowing who these residents are. Worse, some are likely to be difficult to reach via our usual communications channels. It would be much appreciated therefore if you could spread the word in your communities.

We have today launched a campaign urging family and friends to register for support on behalf of people who have received the NHS letter – anyone can do this online at www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

We’re also again encouraging anyone not classed by their GP or hospital clinician as being clinically extremely vulnerable, but still needing support, to register for help via the County Council’s Community Response Unit atwww.derbyshire.gov.uk/gethelp or call 01629 535091 Monday to Friday 9amto 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 1pm.

You can share our Facebook campaign post here or re-Tweet our Twitter post here. We are also issuing this to our e-newsletter database and to local media.

 

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