Council requests for Stockport to be brought out of local restrictions

Stockport Council is requesting that government consider the lifting of local restrictions in the borough, when the decision is next reviewed by the Health Secretary.

Stockport’s coronavirus infection rates have been falling in recent weeks, and in a statement to Councillors, this was attributed to the work of local residents in following the enhanced restrictions placed on Greater Manchester. The infection rate in Stockport is nearly at the same level as Wigan, which was removed from restrictions last week, with 38 cases recorded in the week ending August 23, down by 18 week-on-week.

Cases in Trafford, Salford, and Bolton are also continuing to fall according to the latest data released weekly by Public Health England.

During Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s weekly coronavirus press conference, he also commented on the “very much changed position in Bolton and Stockport” and backed removing those boroughs from restrictions. He also supported reopening certain leisure venues including bowling alleys and casinos, as well as beauty parlours, due to the amount of transmission linked to the home, compared with other places.

Stockport Council leader Elise Wilson also spoke at the press conference to call for the borough’s removal from local restrictions, noting that the borough was within the ‘green level’ of acceptable infection rates. She said:

Our infection data is showing a continued downward trend across all our areas.

“The levels that we have at the moment are within the government’s acceptable levels. On that basis it’s time now for the government to ease those restrictions

“It’s important to say that the reason we are in this position, the reason we’re showing that decline, is because of the hard work of the residents of Stockport. It is them that have followed the measures and it’s them that have made this downward trend.

“It’s important to mention that going forward we may see fluctuations again in infection rates. It’s important to recognise that the schools are going back, but I am confident we have an outbreak management plan that is robust and will be able to address those issues as they come forward.

“But it’s all still dependent on the people of Stockport continuing to follow public health advice, continuing to wash their hands, maintaining social distancing and really looking after each other, so that together we can all get through this and continue to keep those infection rates down so we are able to get on with our lives going forward.”

Stockport Council’s Chief Executive issued the following statement to its Councillors as it made the request to government for restrictions to be lifted:

The Council is requesting, on behalf of the residents of Stockport, that government consider the lifting of local restrictions in our borough, when the decision is reviewed later this week.

Stockport’s coronavirus infection rates have been falling in recent weeks. That is testament to the hard work of our residents following the introduction of the additional restrictions brought in across Greater Manchester and other parts of the north of England.

Greater Manchester publishes its detailed coronavirus infection data every Thursday. The latest figures for Stockport show that in the week ending Saturday 1st August, the borough recorded a 25.6 seven day rate of positive coronavirus test per 100,000 population. A week later that number had increased to 26.6 but, since the heightened restrictions began to make a difference, by 20th August the figure had dropped to 15.1. That is significantly lower than the Greater Manchester average of 35.3 per 100,000.

The latest data to be released shows that the rate of infection in the borough is 11.2 cases per 100,000 people. See attached an updated slide showing the latest data for all 10 GM boroughs. This is being shared with the press by our colleagues at the GMCA.

However, we are still living with Covid and so we are going to continue with our localised messaging to ask residents to continue to be responsible and safe whilst out and about and to continue to apply social distancing measures, wear face coverings and to sanitise (or wash hands) regularly.

We acknowledge with the return of schools there will be increased resident engagement which could potentially cause a further upward trend of in the number of Coronavirus cases in Stockport. I would like to reassure you that if that occurs or if there is an outbreak in schools, our Outbreak Management Plan will be activated with the associated actions and engagement of our residents.

However, in comments made to the Manchester Evening News, Stockport MP Navendu Mishra, whose constituency includes Stockport Town Centre, Edgeley and the Heatons, called for a cautious approach to easing restrictions, given the higher infection rates in some areas of the borough. He said:

I understand the frustration that many people in Stockport feel. But I believe we have to take a cautious approach.

“Unfortunately we still have areas of Stockport where the levels are high and they are mainly in my constituency. The first and foremost thing has to be health and safety, especially a week before the school’s go back.”

Mr Mishra added:

We don’t want a situation where we ease restrictions, then in 10 days or two weeks’ time there’s a massive rise in cases.”

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock is expected to make an announcement this afternoon (Thursday 27th August) on local restrictions following a review.