Rival borough MPs agree Wigan's Covid-19 restrictions should be ended

Makerfield MP Yvonne Fovargue has penned an open letter to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, expressing the frustration of her constituents that the "local lockdown" rules are still imposed on Wigan Borough, despite having the lowest rate of new infections in the city region.

The rules mean that people in these areas are not permitted to mix with other households (apart from those in their support bubble) within private homes or gardens. People are still able to meet others in groups up to 6 individuals, or 2 households, in outdoor public places.

Businesses such as bowling alleys and nail salons are also not allowed to reopen until the measures are relaxed.

Mr Burnham has said the measures still apply to Wigan as a "preventative measure" to prevent the spread across inter-connected towns and cities, although similar blanket coverage has not been applied in other high infection areas such as Lancashire, where Preston is currently under the same restrictions as Greater Manchester.

In her open letter, the Labour MP Ms Fovargue said she had been contacted by many residents who could not understand why they were still being subjected to the restrictions, which they felt were "unwarranted".

And Chris Green the Conservative MP for Bolton West and Atherton, voiced his support for her calls.

Ms Fovargue wrote to the Mayor: "Firstly, I do understand we are living through extraordinary and unprecedented times and that difficult decisions have had to be made. Clearly, there are parts of Greater Manchester with high rates of infection where measures had to be taken.

"That being said, throughout this period, Wigan has consistently had a lower rate of infections per 100,000 population than all other Greater Manchester Boroughs, indeed, it has also had a lower rate of infection than the average for England.

"As you know, I have previously raised with you the view that Wigan could be released from the additional lockdown restrictions in advance of other areas of the region and this is a view I have also expressed to the Secretary of State.

"I note the point you make that the restrictions were being kept in place for Wigan as a preventative measure because of the inter-connectivity of the region. However, other counties do not have blanket restrictions across all areas regardless of infection rates. Also Wigan's connectivity with other parts of Greater Manchester is probably no greater than other areas such as Merseyside or Warrington, which currently have no lockdown measures.

"I have been contacted by many constituents since the measures were introduced in July, at very short notice, who do not understand why they are being subjected to additional restrictions. They feel the additional measures are unwarranted and that they are being penalised unjustly given the better than average infection rate statistics in Wigan."

Ms Fovargue ended the letter: "I would be grateful, therefore, if you can stress this to the Government during the next review and if you could advocate on behalf of Wigan constituents who feel the Borough wide restrictions are unfair and unnecessary at the current time."

Mr Green tweeted: "Completely agree with @Y_FovargueMP that Wigan and other low #Covid transmission areas in GM should be taken out of the enhanced lockdown."