SHEFFIELD Mayor Dan Jarvis has vowed that the £41million financial package from the Government is “just a start” as the city was plunged into Tier 3 lockdown last night.
The Labour mayor said the funding was secured through “tough” haggling with Downing Street as Brits in the city spent the last night before lockdown partying.
Mr Jarvis told BBC Radio 4 Today: “I think (the extra cash) a start.
“I spoke to the Prime Minister on the phone this week and said this is not the end of the discussion.
“So we’re looking very carefully at what we need to do but if there is a requirement for more resources – whether it’s economic support or whether it’s other measures of assistance from the government – I won’t hesitate to go back and ask for them.”
He stressed Sheffield was facing a tough winter ahead: “The scale of the challenge is very significant.
“We are acutely aware of the pressures our NHS is under, not least because winter hasn’t bitten yet, so we are looking very carefully at what we need to do.
“But if there is a requirement for more resource – whether it is economic support or it is other measures of assistance from the Government – I won’t hesitate to go back and ask for them.”
Discussions over funding for Greater Manchester, who was thrown into Tier 3 lockdown on Friday morning, ended in an almighty row between Boris Johnson and mayor Andy Burnham.
Mr Burnham walked away from £60 million in funding on offer from Downing Street and the PM was forced to push them into drastic lockdown restrictions without the agreement of local leaders.
But Mr Jarvis could be sorely disappointed by any plans to try and force No10’s hand and wangle more funding.
It comes as:
- A study revealed Brits are fed up with lockdown and willing to break restrictions
- Only one in ten people self isolate when contacted by NHS Test & Trace
- A £5 saliva test could give people coronavirus results in 15 minutes by Christmas
- A “firebreak” lockdown came into force in Wales – and people were banned from buying clothes & duvets in shops
Last week Rishi Sunak announced a bumper new financial package to try and fend off angry Northern leaders who have had to cope with months of local lockdown restrictions.
A huge grant scheme will give businesses up to £2,100 if they have been impacted by coronavirus measures.
And in a massive olive branch to Northern cities, the claims can be backdated to August – when areas started to be given tougher restrictions than most of the country.
The number of coronavirus infections in Sheffield has spiralled to almost 2,485 in the week to October 18.
But infection rates have slightly fallen in the last week from 452.9 cases per 100,000 to 424.9.
The new Tier 3 rules means Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham will all have strict bans on households mixing.
And bars and pubs will be closed unless they can serve a “substantial meal”.
Casinos, adult gaming centres, soft play centres and group gym classes will all have to be closed.
But gyms can stay open if for individual training.
But worrying infection rates and further restrictions didn’t stop Brits enjoying one last night of partying before the measures came in at a minute past midnight this morning.
The streets were packed with people piling out of bars before the 10pm curfew.
And hundreds of people were seen throwing their arms around one another and drinking on the street as they walked home.
Some partygoers even enjoyed an early Halloween and were spotted dressed up in elaborate costumers.
The few who did have masks on kept them pushed down around their chin.
The pictures of packed streets in Sheffield come after a study showed people are willing to break lockdown to see their loved ones.
Unlike the first wave people are no longer willing to obey the rules – such as not mixing with other households or gathering in groups of more than six.
Brits are worried about the damage to the economy and are furious at high profile rule breakers, the group revealed.
