They kept that quiet

MaizieD I wouldn’t expect any thing less from you.

As a SME the information sent out by our local council is a copy of what comes out of central government that I receive as a private citizen.

Well, I imagine all businesses have been signed up to these communications, since that’s how the information on getting grants etc has been communicated. So it was there for them to see too.

It was there for everyone to see. My son, who has a business, in one of these areas read it. The implications were one of the things we talked about when we had our Sunday conversation.

Honestly if Hane Bloggs (me) can be bothered to cast a glance daily to see if there’s anything that affects me, don’t you think Councils should be doing the same. Specially if they’re in surge areas. Will an email with their Borough name on it not be enough?

To complain about a turnaround seems a bit weird too. Don’t you want measures to contain a surge. Should things just continue to relax?

GrannyGravy13

I agree Peasblossom unfortunately it’s easier to blame Westminster as opposed to the relevant Councillors reading and passing on the information.

You know, I absolutely to refuse to believe that absolutely every-one at LA level missed the information that Peasblossom saw , IF they were getting the same mailings.

I very strongly suspect that they were getting information through a different channel.

Peasblossom

Well, I’ve checked my information emailed by the Government and there it is. As plain as a pikestaff! I didn’t 5hink I’d imagined it.

The relevant Boroughs are named individually and the information on restrictions laid out plainly.

It’s a formal communication direct from Government

So are these Boroughs saying they haven’t signed up to all that formal communication that’s been coming every day. Or is it that they haven’t designated someone to monitor it over the weekend?

Surely they need to bear some responsibility for actually reading what is put out there.

Were the relevant Local Authorities actually on the circulation list, Peasblossom?

If I were running an LA I wouldn't expect to get my government information from a general mailing list. Mixed in with other information, too.

Hounslow is not beside Gatwick Airport, I think you mean it's near Heathrow PippaZ

I agree Peasblossom unfortunately it’s easier to blame Westminster as opposed to the relevant Councillors reading and passing on the information.

There are obvious major implications here for businesses as well as individuals. The news has been focussing on the relaxation of the rules, here we have a complete turn around. Talk about say one thing and do another.

Well, I’ve checked my information emailed by the Government and there it is. As plain as a pikestaff! I didn’t 5hink I’d imagined it.

The relevant Boroughs are named individually and the information on restrictions laid out plainly.

It’s a formal communication direct from Government

So are these Boroughs saying they haven’t signed up to all that formal communication that’s been coming every day. Or is it that they haven’t designated someone to monitor it over the weekend?

Surely they need to bear some responsibility for actually reading what is put out there.

In any kind of organisation/hierarchy, people should be informed of changes formally. They shouldn't have to read about the changes in the paper or see it on the news.

What's happened in Bolton isn't unexpected and, by now, there really is no excuse for not having communication strategies in place.

Thank you for that information Daisymae, I live in the north west and though I’m not in the affected areas I do visit them or travel through them from time to time. This could and should have been communicated far more effectively.

Local authorities shouldn't have to rely on reading about restrictions in the media. They should have been informed formally and the situation discussed.

EllanVannin

Do people have to have it spelled out now ?

Yes, if they are being told one thing one minute and another the next.

A friend of mine has booked a short break (UK, and nowhere near other people, before you tell her that you wouldn't be doing it) during half term, and has only today found that people in her area may be being advised not to travel. Of course it's fine to do so to work or for education, or to mix freely within the area, so not a real lockdown.

She has taken time off work, has three young children who were looking forward to going away. She has not been irresponsible in any way. The figures in her area have been rising, but all the spokespeople have concentrated on praising the vaccine programme instead of giving out sensible information.

My friend is an intelligent woman who does not need things to be 'spelled out'. She does, however, need to be told how the situation is developing in order to be able to make decisions, travel arrangements and so on.

wrt do people have to have it spelled out to them

There is a surge test centre on a garden centre car park, is the garden centre still open?

Chestnut

I don't really know why people would want to travel overseas during a pandemic. They should go home and stay in their own country. A holiday is not a good enough reason for travelling between countries, it increases risk of spreading.

My mistake, I read it quickly and thought it referred to international travel.

EllanVannin

Do people have to have it spelled out now ?

It appears the government chose to EllanVannin and forgot to tell anyone they were doing it.

The leader of Bolton council has just been on the radio saying no new restrictions apply to Bolton, nothing has changed, it's an absolute mess.

Do people have to have it spelled out now ?

When this has been on the news regularly surely common sense should prevail ? I wouldn't need to be told not to travel hither and thither for the simple reason I wouldn't anyway.

PippaZ

Just watching BBC News and it went on the .Gov site on Friday morning but the areas say they were not informed - the government say they were.

This is from the NewStatesman daily email.

This guidance was published on the government website on Friday evening, but with no accompanying announcement. Four days later, local health officials, councils and MPs for the areas have reacted with anger at the lack of notice before, or indeed after, these changes, unearthed by the team at the Manchester Evening News. The government is now facing accusations that it has been trying to impose local lockdowns by stealth.

It goes on to say So what's going on? MPs this morning are baffled by the whole thing, with one noting that ministers would have needed to approve the changes, but the fact that it has blindsided even local Conservative MPs suggests that sign-off didn't happen, or that something went wrong. While some MPs are wondering whether the advice was in fact published in error, Downing Street has said that the press conference on 14 May about the Indian coronavirus variant, which didn't contain specific guidance beyond urging caution, effectively amounted to an announcement of these changes.

They also highlight the fact that Hounslow is "beside" Gatwick Airport. Many see Gatwick as being in Hounslow. I doubt this government will stop all the "meeting indoors" at the airport or "avoid travelling in and out of affected areas" including the airport.

The article also says that MP's are clamouring for answers about the way this advice has been issued.

This government seems to have truly perfected making a sow's ear out of a silk purse!

Didn’t know Gatwick had moved, thought it was in West Sussex! Heathrow is in the London Borough of Hillingdon,

I live in Bedford and wasn’t aware of the latest covid restrictions till I put the television on early this morning, and so the confusion goes on,

jaylucy- that's very interesting, if people actually in the areas have little information how exactly is this supposed to have any effect??

Chestnut

I don't really know why people would want to travel overseas during a pandemic. They should go home and stay in their own country. A holiday is not a good enough reason for travelling between countries, it increases risk of spreading.

Did you even bother to read the thread, Chestnut? It's nothing at all to do with travelling abroad on holiday

Boris himself said it somewhere.

That is hardly a trustworthy source of information

Doesn't the problem lie in there being no direct official notification and guidance to the authorities who would have to oversee the implementation of the guidance?

You would think that by this stage of the pandemic we'd have got over the teething troubles. Departments surely ought to be able to co-ordinate administrative details, like informing all the appropriate people, by now?

I heard this on the news this morning.

Just watching BBC News and it went on the .Gov site on Friday morning but the areas say they were not informed - the government say they were.

This is from the NewStatesman daily email.

This guidance was published on the government website on Friday evening, but with no accompanying announcement. Four days later, local health officials, councils and MPs for the areas have reacted with anger at the lack of notice before, or indeed after, these changes, unearthed by the team at the Manchester Evening News. The government is now facing accusations that it has been trying to impose local lockdowns by stealth.

It goes on to say So what's going on? MPs this morning are baffled by the whole thing, with one noting that ministers would have needed to approve the changes, but the fact that it has blindsided even local Conservative MPs suggests that sign-off didn't happen, or that something went wrong. While some MPs are wondering whether the advice was in fact published in error, Downing Street has said that the press conference on 14 May about the Indian coronavirus variant, which didn't contain specific guidance beyond urging caution, effectively amounted to an announcement of these changes.

They also highlight the fact that Hounslow is "beside" Gatwick Airport. Many see Gatwick as being in Hounslow. I doubt this government will stop all the "meeting indoors" at the airport or "avoid travelling in and out of affected areas" including the airport.

The article also says that MP's are clamouring for answers about the way this advice has been issued.

This government seems to have truly perfected making a sow's ear out of a silk purse!

I don't really know why people would want to travel overseas during a pandemic. They should go home and stay in their own country. A holiday is not a good enough reason for travelling between countries, it increases risk of spreading.