Councils in the United Kingdom have been told by ministers to stop applying Covid-19 rules “disproportionately” and threatening to punish pubs for failing to ensure social distancing outside.
Robert Jenrick, the Local Government secretary, wrote to council leaders urging them to ensure they work with pubs and bars that are trying to open safely and within the rules.
The news comes after it was revealed that several councils have set up enforcement squads to patrol pubs and restaurants to look for customers breaking the rules.
Investigations were threatened by councils into pubs in Coventry and Maidstone after locals queued to get into beer gardens.
In the letter to all council chief executives and leaders in England, Mr Jenrick said that official guidance on what is defined as an outdoor shelter had to be “applied proportionately and consistently in your areas to support businesses to reopen safely and to avoid overzealous interpretations of the rules.
“It is in the public interest that local residents can socialise in a licensed and controlled environment outside, where Covid-19 risks are lower.
“If a disproportionate regulatory approach is taken, it risks driving residents into unregulated activity and premises which may be far less Covid-secure and/or illegal.”
Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: “The Government must listen to our hospitality businesses and change course. Instead of imposing all the extra costs and bureaucracy of Covid ID cards, Ministers should be supporting pubs, bars and restaurants to get back on their feet as we emerge from the pandemic.”
Editor-in-Chief | Carl D. Pearson has been involved in British politics and media from an early age, with the key knowledge of what it takes to run a news organisation for the 21st century. Mr Pearson, as Editor-in-chief, is responsible for supervising the daily tasks of publishing media and content to UNN’s website and various platforms.
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