Bassetlaw will continue to rise to the challenge of Covid-19, says council leader

This has been a year like no other with a series of unprecedented challenges.

As a council, NHS and as a community we have overcome many hurdles so far and will continue to do so until life returns to some kind of normality.

When Covid-19 first began to impact our everyday lives with the first national lockdown on March 23, very few of us could have predicted the huge ramifications that it would bring and the ways that we have all had to adapt our way of life just to try and keep people safe.

But it is for that reason that we have lived by the myriad of Government guidance over the last nine months – to protect the NHS and to save lives.

Our NHS has been put under immense strain during this time and I would like to personally thank all of our local NHS workers for their herculean efforts to battle the effects of Covid.

I would also like to thank all of the volunteers who have generously given their time to support their community by delivering food parcels, medicines or simply checking up on their neighbours to make sure they are okay.

I would also like to thank council workers who have continued to collect bins, process vital business support grants and ensure that our essential services continue to be delivered in these difficult times.

I know there are too many people and services to mention individually here, but I thank you for your efforts and I hope that all of you were able to spend some time with loved ones over the Christmas period and enjoy the festivities.

Unfortunately, at the time of writing this, we are likely to still find ourselves in tier three and the restrictions this brings.

It is no secret that I would like to see far more transparency from the Government as to why areas like Bassetlaw are placed into a particular tier.

I would also like to see even more support provided for businesses, especially in the hospitality and leisure sector, who have suffered devastating financial losses during this pandemic.

With news of a vaccine being rolled out more and more each day, there is now a chink of light at the end of the tunnel.

But with this in mind, please continue to remember ‘Hands, Face, Space’ and if you experience any symptoms of Covid-19, such as a high temperature, a new continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste, get a test as soon as possible.

Again, I wish you all a happy new year and hope that 2021 brings much happier and prosperous times.

Coun Simon Greaves is the leader of Bassetlaw District Council.