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The new strict tier system will be the ‘end of the traditional British pub’, Sacha Lord says
“Today’s announcements will spell the end of the traditional British pub as we know it”
Sacha Lord says he was heartbroken to hear the tougher new restrictions the government is introducing after lockdown, which could be ‘the end of the local’.
Mr Lord, the Night Time Economy Advisor for Greater Manchester, has commented on the tighter tiering restrictions which will see the closure of pubs, bars and restaurants in Tier 3 areas (with the exception of takeaway services).
He said: “Today’s announcements will spell the end of the traditional British pub as we know it and will have a devastating impact on communities.”
He added that he ‘heard reports’ that 94% of pubs in Tier 3 will go under by spring, something he describes as ‘no exaggeration’.
He continued: “These places are the lifeblood of communities. A place to let off steam, to share wins and tragedies. They provide places of comfort, laughter, friendship and socialisation for many, not just for the elderly, but for the disadvantaged. To kill these vital social spaces with these hardline measures, backed by little scientific evidence, will be a devastating blow to the very fabric of British culture.
“It is clear that the ever increasing debt from rents, rates and bills will be too much for the majority, especially the independent operators which cannot lean on parent companies.
“Operators across Greater Manchester and the UK have spent several millions on making their venues covid-secure, following the Government’s own guidelines, and I can only view these new regulations as a knife in the back and to the heart of the sector.
“Operators now face business ruin and the finalisation of redundancy procedures, and for a sector where 21% of full time workers and 53 per cent of part time workers are already paid under Living Wage*, many workers now face an increased risk of poverty.
“For those who used to go to their locals for a pint after work, to see friends or to watch football, these moves will only serve to increase severe loneliness and isolation.
“For regulations which are supposedly built on keeping people safe, I am certain these moves will not only encourage people to gather in their own homes, but will also increase the likelihood of illegal parties or raves. It is once again a move that will do more harm than good.
“On Thursday, the Government will vote on these proposed measures. We urge MPs on both sides to do the right thing and vote against the destruction of the nation’s most loved sector.”
Commuters could be facing the steepest rise in the cost of train travel in more than a decade just months after prices were already increased.
It has been predicted today that train prices across England and Wales could rise by nearly 5% before the New Year.
The 2021 rise in prices was delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic when train travel was at an all-time low, however, tickets still saw a price rise of 2.6% in March.
Abhijit Tembhekar / Flickr
And this morning, the Retail Prices Index for July 2021 was confirmed as 3.8% by the Office for National Statistics, meaning passengers could see fares rise by 4.8% in 2022, which would be the largest hike since 2012.
This means that the cost of rail travel could increase twice within ten months, and would see a Manchester-Glasgow off-peak return rise by £6.30 to £94.90, according to Metro.
Though all hope isn’t yet gone – changes to the fares in 2022 are still yet to be confirmed.
Jon David Houghton / Wikimedia Commons
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “No decision has been made on national rail fares.
“The government is considering a variety of options and we will announce our decision in due course.”
This news has come as train travel in Manchester and beyond is on the rise – earlier this month, we reported that zero cases of Covid were found in Manchester Piccadilly Train Station, despite thousands of commuters using the station’s services as offices reopen.
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