North Warwickshire Borough Council has welcomed the sharp reduction in rates of Covid-19 infection that has taken place since the recent lockdown, but is warning the people of Atherstone that there is more to do before the pubs and other parts of the hospitality industry can reopen.

The second national lockdown, which began on November 5, has ended today, with Atherstone and the rest of Warwickshire placed in Tier Three of the new restrictions.

During the lockdown infection rates have fallen from 409 per 100,000 people to just over 200 in less than a fortnight, but cases in North Warwickshire are still above the country's average.

North Warwickshire Borough Council is engaging with Government on a regular basis to press for the area to be moved into Tier Two of the new restrictions but needs the case rate to continue to fall to back that lobbying up.

As the new restrictions come into force however, leader of the borough council David Wright said "Our residents have done a great job in starting to get this virus back under control and I'm grateful for all the many sacrifices that will have involved.

"I've said before how disappointed I was for our area to be placed into Tier Three and we have made our case very strongly to the Government. Work continues to ensure Government understands what's happening in our areas and hear our case loud and clear but we need the figures to continue to fall to make that case even stronger."

The council is continuing to help the work of volunteer groups to support people particularly affected by Covid-19 and has moved to pay additional grants to businesses. In addition to the £13m given out to over 1100 businesses earlier in the year, the Council has now paid out 263 further grants worth £407,000 in the last two weeks.

Atherstone's MP Craig Tracey was one of 55 Conservative MPs to defy the Chief Whip and vote against the new tiered restrictions. He stated that "The introduction of a model that links us with Solihull is baffling, particularly when we have no obvious links with them on either a regional NHS basis or local authority basis."

Businesses are urged to visit the Council's website and the scheme is also open to charitable organisations with strong local links.