Hundreds of Covid complaints received by Wakefield Council

If a complaint is valid, it is followed up by a telephone call, letter or a visit, determined by the risk and nature of the complaint.

The procedure has resulted in six £1,000 fixed penalty notices being issued to businesses that were flouting the rules.

The council said fines are given as a last resort to premises that have already been offered support and guidance to put things right and protect people from the spread of coronavirus.

Any business issued with a fine will have a period of 7 -10 days to challenge the notice.

Coun Maureen Cummings, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for environment, communities and poverty, said: “We understand that this is an extremely difficult time for local businesses, with many having to close their doors for a second time during this national lockdown and I’d like to thank everyone for supporting and following the national restrictions.

“The vast majority of businesses who are allowed to stay open have worked incredibly hard to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for their staff and customers. However, there are some businesses who are still not abiding by the rules and are quite simply risking people’s lives.

“The national restrictions are not easy but are absolutely crucial if we are to control the spread of the virus and ultimately save lives.

“With cases continuing to rise across our district, we will continue to offer support and advice on social distancing and safety measures to ensure businesses are up to date with the latest information.”

The council said the majority of local businesses are following the restrictions in place and those that are permitted to remain open have worked extremely hard to make changes to help reduce the spread of the virus and keep their staff and customers safe.

The national measures reduce day-to-day contact between people in a bid to reduce the growing rates of infection across England and avoid the NHS becoming overwhelmed.

The restrictions mean that:

All non-essential retail will close, including pubs, restaurants, entertainment venues and leisure facilities except for those offering takeaway or click and collect/delivery services.

People will only be able to leave their home for specific reasons including work, essential shopping, exercise and in case of emergencies.

Other businesses including building and manufacturing can remain open provided they follow Government guidance.

Early years, schools and further and higher education will remain open.

There will be further restrictions on household mixing.

Vulnerable people are asked to minimise their contact with others.

Anyone wanting to report a venue in the Wakefield district that they believe isn’t operating safely should email [email protected] or call 0345 8 506 506.

Coun Darren Byford, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic growth, said: “We are here to support businesses through these challenging times. If you need advice on the latest restrictions, or help and advice on accessing financial support that may be available, please get in touch.”

For further help and support, please visit the Council’s dedicated webpage for businesses at www.wakefieldfirst.com/covid-19/ which has a range of FAQs to refer to including help with

Local Restrictions Support Grants, cash-flow problems, tax liabilities, account managers they can talk to and advice on managing staff during the pandemic. Alternatively, please contact [email protected] or call 01924 306 630.

For full details of national restrictions go to https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus