Call for 'scores on the doors' covid rating system for hairdressers and barbers in Hartlepool

Concerns were raised that more needed to be done to protect hairdressing businesses during the pandemic

A motion was raised by Cllr Marjorie James to look at bringing in a system to rate barbers and hairdressers on a scale of one to five based on their measures to mitigate against Covid-19.

She said she hoped it would allow those who take thorough precaution against Covd-19 to remain operating through any future lockdowns during further waves, and added the system could also potentially cover gyms.

The issue was raised at the recent Hartlepool Borough Council Neighbourhood Services Committee, and gained support from councillors for a feasibility study to take place over the idea.

Cllr James said she had been contacted by a number of businesses in the borough over such a scheme.

She said: “The ultimate intention if we brought something in on a one to five scale, would be that if we went into lockdown we would be confident enough that fours and fives should be allowed to remain open, and that would be about lobbying the Government for that.

“If you were a three then you would be given a month to bring yourself up to a four and could then remain open, and ones and twos would be the ones most at risk and therefore they would be closed.

“A lot of them have really entered into this [pandemic] and spent quite a lot of money, they’re allowing plenty of time for people on both sides so that they can clean down.

“In a lot of ways it wouldn’t be about putting another nail in their coffin, it would actually be about saying they’re alive and kicking and please come in.”

Cllr James noted lockdown arrangements are normally made by Government but ‘more and more they’re moving towards local decision making’.

Therefore she added if Hartlepool could bring in such a regime it may be possible to lobby the Government so other authorities could also utilise a similar scheme.

Cllr Sue Little also praised the idea and added it would provide a boost to the businesses.

She said: “I really, really think it’s a brilliant idea. I think it will also encourage a lot of people to go back to the hairdressers.

“If they see a five star rating or a four star rating, it might encourage people to go back and use those businesses.”

Tony Hanson, council director of neighbourhoods and regulatory services, said there is no capacity for officers to bring forward a report on the issue at this time.

This is due to the ongoing work of officers to tackle the pandemic, such as helping to carry out the track and trace scheme

It was therefore agreed by councillors the issue would be looked at in six months or the end of the pandemic, whichever occurred first.

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