CONCERNS have been raised by a popular Bradford bar over the looming threat of Tier 3 restrictions which come into force on Monday.

The Record Cafe, on North Parade, says it has "very little confidence" that measures would be enforced and that it had seen "very little" enforcement of Tier 2 which Bradford has effectively been in for months.

A thread on Twitter said: "Yet the rates carry on rising. We’ve been doing everything by the book. And adapted the business to carry on trading. And keep jobs.

"There’s little evidence linking hospitality to rises in infection. We’ve not been linked to any, despite being reopened since August.

What are the restrictions in Tier 3?

"Yet Tier 3 would see us probably have no alternative but to close. Despite in the background spending time and money adapting to go online on top of the extra hours and workload and stress of implementing and actually enforcing the new measures.

"It feels like despite this, we’d be the ones closing. Throwing stock away AGAIN and having to sit on stock, sit at home, fretting and twiddling our thumbs whilst those that have ignored the rules will be free to carry on like nothing is happening, whilst we just have to watch through our shutters.

"Lives and businesses will be ruined in vain again."

Meanwhile, Phil Barkley, from the Drum Winder on Ivegate, has urged for a decision to be made on Tier 3. 

He said local restrictions, then Tier 2 restrictions, are "killing the business by a thousand cuts". 

"By stopping friends sitting together it has alienated most of our business and pretty much I guess the same for most of the bars in the city," he said.

"I don't understand the rhetoric from the Council about trying to save jobs because we are under real pressure here. 

"On Thursday I need to order stock for the next week and I don't want to be tipping more down the drain due to our Council dithering for days on end. 

"We have heard they have been having talks for days now - how long does it take? Stop playing polictics when lives are getting lost. NHS are stopping some services due to Covid and we are not helping them.

"We are down about 80 per cent."

While five or six staff used to work a Saturday shift, it can now be managed with two. 

Bradford Council was contacted for comment. 

In a statement yesterday, Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: “Our local residents and our local businesses need certainty about whether we are going into Tier 3 or not. Whilst Government only called us in for a meeting about Tier 3 at the beginning of this week, I know that continued national media stories have led residents and businesses to speculate for some time about whether West Yorkshire would be next after seeing neighbouring regions go into Tier 3. 

“Crucially, it is still not clear what support the Government will make available to businesses by way of compensation across the region if we go into Tier 3. Government has told us that it is a “template package” which has been given to other regions with no room for negotiation – the financial amount is fixed.

"Ministers have promised to clarify the support package for businesses in a further planned meeting. I am worried about people’s jobs, having a large number of low paid workers who can ill afford a cut in wages. In West Yorkshire the claimant count has doubled since Covid and the end of this month will see a further anticipated rise in unemployment as furlough comes to an end.

“Lives and livelihoods are important. We will continue to do our best for both in these very difficult times. But please stay apart, cover your face and wash your hands. Stay safe.”