Crawley council leader reacts to ‘painful’ Tier 4 restrictions

The restrictions, which come into force on Boxing Day, aim to limit the spread of coronavirus.

In a statement Labour councillor Peter Lamb said: “We are in the midst of a global pandemic which has already cost far more lives in Britain than were lost in the Blitz and which is stretching the NHS to its limits.

“Under such circumstances, if epidemiologists and public health experts believe that these restrictions are necessary to avoid needless loss of life, then we must accept them, even where that is painful.”

But he said the annoucement will have ‘huge consequences’ for the town, which has already been hit hard by Covid-19.

He added: “It is hard to see how the many local businesses which are already stretched to their limits will now survive, adding to the growing unemployment crisis in Crawley caused by past sets of restrictions.

“Despite being the hardest-hit economy in the country, Crawley not only has yet to receive any significant support from the Government to get the town back on it’s feet from COVID-19, we are still waiting for the economic investment the Government promised the town before the last General Election.

“The unemployment crisis facing the town is the direct consequence of decisions taken by this Government. They have a duty to help solve the problems those decisions have created.”