Latest Preston and South Ribble coronavirus rates as pressure grows for government to ‘split Lancashire’ tiers

The Harris Museum looking festive in Preston city centre Pic: Tony Worrall

Preston and South Ribble have seen their coronavirus infection rates continue to fall.

During Friday (27 November) the city saw 38 new confirmed coronavirus cases.

County council leader calls for a local say

Leader of Lancashire County Council Geoff Driver has expressed his disappointment at the tier-3 decision.

On Thursday (26 November) all of Lancashire was placed into tier-3 restrictions, the toughest measures, once the second national lockdown ends on 2 December.

He’s called for the government to listen to representations made about splitting Lancashire in two when it comes to the tier restrictions.

Cllr Driver said: “It is always a balance between protecting lives and protecting livelihoods, and getting that balance right will always be difficult.

“We know there are still serious pressures on the hospitals and we really want to see that number come down.

“We also know rates have come down significantly since the time when we were placed in the original Tier 3, three weeks before this lockdown began and in the west and north of the county this is particularly pronounced.

“I am naturally disappointed by the decision to put the whole county into the same tier, and we will be speaking to the Government about what the measures will be for coming out of Tier 3.

“I also think it is important that local leaders have more input on these decisions as we know our areas best.

“I shall also be stressing that more support should be available to people who test positive so that they can afford to self isolate.

“I would ask that everyone in Lancashire continues to work together and follows the rules to drive the infection rate down even further to strengthen our argument that restrictions should be eased.

Government hint of tiers reprieve

Communities secretary Robert Jenrick appeared on BBC Breakfast to hint that a number of places could see their tier measures decreased before Christmas.

The government has committed to reviewing the current tiers on December 16.

He said: “There were a number of places which were quite finely balanced judgements where they were on the cusp of different tiers. Those are the places that are more likely to be in that position.

“Our overall approach is trying to insure the tiers hold the line and that places are in a process of de-escalation. What we don’t want to do is ease up too quickly and then find that in January we are having to put tiers back in place again.

“But there is every reason to believe that places could see a change at December 16-17 time.”

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