LOCAL lockdown restrictions in just nine council wards in the Bradford district are to be lifted next week.

Restrictions on two households mixing, introduced last month to curb the spread of Covid-19 will be lifted in the district, apart from in Bradford City and Keighley town.

Read live updates and reaction to today's local lockdown announcement here

The decision came following discussions with local leaders, the Health Secretary, NHS Test and Trace, the Joint Biosecurity Centre and the Chief Medical Officer for England.

From Wednesday, September 2, restrictions on two households mixing introduced last month will be lifted in:

  • Parts of Bradford excluding Bradford city and Keighley town

Areas in Bradford, where restrictions are being lifted:

  • Worth Valley
  • Craven
  • Ilkley
  • Baildon
  • Bingley
  • Bingley Rural
  • Shipley
  • Wharfedale
  • Windhill and Wrose
     
  • Parts of Calderdale excluding Halifax
  • Brighouse
  • Calder
  • Elland
  • Greenland and Stainland
  • Hipperholme and Lightcliffe
  • Luddendenfoot
  • Rastrick
  • Ryburn
  • Todmorden

    Parts of Kirklees excluding Dewsbury and Batley
  • Golcar
  • Greenhead
  • Heckmondwike
  • Holme Valley South
  • Lindley
  • Liversedge and Gomersal
  • Mirfield
  • Newsome
  • Cleckheaton
  • Dalton
  • Denby Dale
  • Almondbury
  • Colne Valley
  • Crosland Moor and Netherton
  • Holme Valley North
  • Kirkburton
  • Ashbrow
  • Birstall and Birkenshaw

Businesses and organisations which opened elsewhere in England on August 15, including bowling alleys and indoor play areas, will also be permitted to re-open in the areas listed above, bringing these areas in line with the rest of the country.

People are being urged to continue to wear face coverings where necessary, practise good hygiene and adhere to national social distancing rules.

This week, local areas have been encouraged to take a new, collaborative approach to advise on the geographical boundaries of local restrictions, with councils, public health leaders and MPs making proposals to the Gold Local Action committee based on the latest data available.

It means restrictions in some areas will only apply to certain wards, rather than the entire Local Authority area.

This is part of the government’s enhanced Contain Strategy to deliver more targeted action to drive down rates of Covid-19 at a hyper-local level.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “We brought in measures to protect people in these parts of Northern England, and I want to thank residents who have worked so hard to get on top of this virus.

“We’re seeing the positive results of our local approach, and are able to bring in increasingly targeted measures.

“It is vital we can maintain this good progress. I have every faith people across the county, especially in areas where we are seeing higher numbers of cases, will continue to play their part by following local rules, and self-isolating and requesting a free test as soon as they get any symptoms.”

The weekly Local Action Gold Committee, chaired by the Health Secretary, agreed local restrictions will continue in the following areas:

  • Urban areas of Bradford, where the ban on indoor household gatherings is in place and some businesses and organisations remain closed
  • In Kirklees, the ban on indoor household gatherings will continue in Dewsbury and Batley
  • The ban will also continue in parts of Calderdale.

The announcement on this week’s changes to local restrictions comes as the Health Secretary signed new national regulations formalising penalties for people who repeatably do not wear face coverings on public transport, shops and other areas where it is mandatory.

Fines for not wearing face coverings start at £100, which can be reduced if paid within 14 days. Repeat offenders on public transport or in indoor settings will now have their fines doubled at each offence. After the first offence, there will be no discount. This means a second fine will amount to £200 and a third fine will be £400, up to a maximum value of £3,200.