No local lockdown in Oldham welcomed

New measures have been brought in to try and tackle the virus in Oldham.

Oldham’s MPs have been lining up to welcome the news that the town won’t be plunged into a Leicester-style local lockdown despite a rise in the number of new Coronavirus cases.

The Government announced new measures would be brought in as of midnight on Saturday (22nd August) but they would stop short of a complete lockdown the likes of which we saw at the start of the pandemic.

The decision follows a number of meetings involving the likes of Jim McMahon, Debbie Abrahams and Angela Raynor along with the leader of Oldham Council Councillor Sean Fielding and Cabinet Office officials as the town tried to avoid the lockdown.

Now the news has been announced that their efforts have been successful, the reaction has been one of welcoming the decision.

Debbie Abrahams, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: “This is really good news for residents and our local businesses. Well done to everyone for all their hard work in getting the message out about the need for us all to stay vigilant. There’s no doubt it has paid off.

"We must now all continue to play our part in saving us from any future threat of a full lockdown which would be disastrous for the local economy.

Councillor Sean Fielding posted a video on social media welcoming the decision:

***BREAKING***

We have reached agreement with the Government that Oldham will not go in to full local economic lockdown. Some additional restrictions will be introduced, however. More to follow... pic.twitter.com/AUO3PeHOCI

— Sean Fielding (@cllrsfielding) August 21, 2020

Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, added: “A widespread economic lockdown would have been wrong Far from helping to defeat the virus it would have diluted resources and needlessly closed businesses which were not a factor in the spread of the virus Still difficult restrictions, but better than what could have been.”

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