Leaders of Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council respond to 'roadmap' out of lockdown

The leaders of Warwick District Council and Warwickshire County Council have responded to the Prime Minister's 'roadmap' out of lockdown.

The 'roadmap' plans were announced yesterday with a proposed timetable for when places can start to reopen and when restrictions will ease - including schools, rules surrounding meeting up with people and the reopening of the hospitality and leisure sectors.

Cllr Andrew Day, leader of Warwick District Council said: "I have been writing with the Chief Executive to give residents updated for a year and we have all been working so hard together - it has been a shared effort from everybody and it has not been easy.

"We are now looking at guidance from the Government about the practical items."

Cllr Day also said that the council was now looking at when they could reopen the district's parks and leisure facilities and that they were taking practical steps on a local government level and that work would continue to keep the vaccinations going.

He said: "We are going to try and keep it simple and issue items about the practical things people want to know about and what is happening in the Warwick district."

The plans for the easing of lockdown restrictions were also welcomed by Cllr Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council.

She said: "Warwickshire County Council welcomes the Prime Ministers' announcement that, nationally, we are in a position where lockdown restrictions can begin to be lifted, but it remains essential that our residents continue to do the right thing for Warwickshire and follow the rules so that we can continue to drive down the rates of infection and hospital admissions.

"We recognise how difficult the last months of lockdown have been and would like to thank our residents for the sacrifices that they have made, which means that restrictions will begin to be lifted.

"There is still a way to go, as we move towards a more normal way of life, and Covid-19 testing and support for the nationwide vaccination programme remain essential in reducing the transmission of the virus in our communities."

The council would also like to remind residents to continue to regularly washing and sanitising hands, keeping a safe distance from those not in the same household, wear a face covering and get regular tests.

Community testing is available at six test sites across the county with the closest for residents in the Warwick district being at the Adult and Community Learning Site in Pound Lane in Lillington.

Appointments can be booked by visiting: https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/covidcommunitytesting