Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore blasts 'arbitrary' decision to put city into Tier 3

Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore has described the decision-making process which led to Sheffield being placed back into Tier 3 as “arbitrary”.
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The Government confirmed all four local authority areas in South Yorkshire would remain subject to the toughest restrictions when the national lockdown ends on 2 December, despite case rates falling across the region.

Cllr Dore, who will step down next month, said: “The decision around which tier we are in has been taken by central government, there has not been input from local councils or Directors of Public Health. As Mayor Dan Jarvis has said it is important that the government give a full rationale for how they have made different determinations in different areas and also how you can get out of the restrictions you are placed in.

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"Without this it will be harder to bring people along and to give hope that there is an end in sight to the sacrifices we are making. From the start I expressed my concerns about the localised lockdown system and we have seen the problems it creates with decisions about different places looking arbitrary.”

Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council.Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council.
Councillor Julie Dore, leader of Sheffield City Council.

Despite expressing her ‘incredible frustration’ at the Government’s handling of the pandemic, Cllr Dore called for people to continue to abide by the restrictions to avoid a rise in cases and potentially deaths.

South Yorkshire’s coronavirus death toll continues to rise on a daily basis.

Government guidance on South Yorkshire on putting the county into Tier 3, said despite improvements, case rates in all ages and rates in those over 60 remain “very high” and there is pressure on local NHS Trusts.