Burnley Council leader calls Tier 3 Covid restrictions 'understandable step'

Mr Townsend said that while a lot of people in the borough would feel dismayed by today announcement, it was a necessary step given existing high infection rates and hospital admissions.

“People will have a very different Christmas this year and we all need to abide by the Tier 3 and Christmas rules outlined by the Government.

"I want to thank everyone for their efforts so far in helping to protect themselves and others from this virus.

"There's very positive news on the vaccine front and we're all hopeful that 2021 will be a far better year for us all. It's important that we don't let up in our efforts and we continue to follow advice from the health experts. The last thing anyone wants to get for Christmas is Covid.

"I was supportive of a Lancashire-wide approach to the tier guidelines, based on public health advice, to ensure consistency across different areas of the county."

Coun. Townsend added: "These restrictions allow people to enjoy the festive season responsibly but in a slightly different way than normal so that we can all enjoy a Merry Christmas.

"It's also great that non-essential shops and businesses can re-open in the run-up to the festive period. Many jobs are dependent on this vital sector and I really hope the people of Burnley and Padiham will support it by shopping local whenever they can in the run up to Christmas and beyond.

"Shopping is a big part of the Christmas build up however I just urge people to continue to act responsibly and to wear masks and keep social distancing to protect each other.

"It's unfortunate that pubs can't re-open but we have to do all we can to avoid another spike in infections.

Burnley BID project manager Andrew Dean urged people to support local businesses in the crucial coming weeks.

He said: “This will be welcome news to our businesses that can open their doors again next month and comes at a crucial time. The festive season is the busiest part of the year for shops and it now gives them the opportunity to take advantage of the Christmas shopping period and make up for some of the lost sales throughout November.

“We will be continuing to support those that are not allowed to operate as normal under Tier 3 restrictions.

“Finally, I would urge everyone to support local businesses where they can over the coming weeks, whether that’s by visiting the high street, ordering online or getting takeaway food and drinks among other things. Your custom could really help make the difference in ensuring your favourite stores and businesses are here for the long run."