Councillor Rebecca Poulsen, Leader of the Conservative Group said, “It is disappointing that Bradford District residents will spend Christmas and New Year under Tier 3 restrictions. It has been a long hard year for most people and it would have been nice for residents to have had more freedom to see their loved ones and maybe go out for a meal, so it is very disheartening that this is not to be.

Remaining in Tier 3 has such an impact on our hospitality businesses and I know they were hoping for an early Christmas present and a move to Tier 2.

Like many, I have been monitoring the infection rates and desperately hoping for them to drop enough to allow for us to have only Tier 2 restrictions from now on, but sadly although our rates have decreased they are not low enough yet to make it safe to move to a lower tier.   

I can fully empathise with those who feel that the restrictions seem like a never ending slog and that this latest setback feels deeply disheartening, as most of us feel the same. I can only encourage everyone to keep following the guidelines and look forward to a better year ahead.  With vaccines already being rolled out across the District this seems to be bringing the light at the end of the tunnel that bit closer and  I feel confident that we will be in a much better place by Spring.   On behalf of the Bradford Conservative Group  I would like to wish the residents of Bradford District a Happy Christmas and as Healthy a New Year as possible in the circumstances. Let’s hope that it is much better year ahead than this one has been. Stay safe everyone.”