Hartlepool council leader apologises as he confirms town looks set to enter Tier 3 ‘as soon as possible'

In a video message Councillor Shane Moore confirmed that the Government wants to place the whole of the Tees Valley under Tier 3, meaning that Hartlepool will be among the areas subject to the toughest coronavirus restrictions.

Coun Moore said that the Government had decided on Wednesday that they will put all of the Tees Valley within Tier 3 ‘as soon as possible.’

The council leader said that although cases were falling in the town, cases elsewhere in the region had ‘spiralled out of control.’

Coun Moore said: "Unfortunately cases elsewhere in the region have spiralled out of control.

"Restrictions weren’t put in in time there and they have got to the point where they cannot control those cases there and the hospital admissions without further interventions.

"At this point the Government has decided that they will not look at each individual authority and that they are going to treat the Tees Valley as one single entity.

"For that reason they decided yesterday at a meeting that they will put all of the Tees Valley within Tier 3 as soon as possible.”

The council leader said he would argue for measures to only cause ‘minimum distruption’ to people’s lives – but admitted that the Government do not have to accept anything the council puts forward.

Instead he urged Hartlepool to come together in the hope of having ‘some kind of normality’ for Christmas.

He said: "Today we had meetings with ministers where they set out their intentions.

“They want us to enter Tier 3 within 48 hours. Over the coming days we will sit down with them and tell them whether we will or won't accept certain criteria.

"I am incredibly angry that decisions weren’t taken elsewhere earlier and because of that all of your hard work has been in vain – and for that I am sorry.

"The decision has been taken out of our hands. We didn’t consent to it, I don’t agree with it, but I have to be honest and say there is nothing I can do to stop it.

"It is coming and now it is a case of what and when.”

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