Isle of Scilly residents blast ‘selfish’ crowds heading to the Tier 1 haven as it becomes last place in UK to get a pint
FURIOUS residents of the Scilly Isles have blasted Covidiots heading over from the mainland as it becomes the last place in Britain to buy a pint.
Islanders have shared fears their coveted Tier 1 status will see crowds flocking to their shores for a virus-free break - and some say outsiders have already arrived.
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Three-quarters of the UK have now been plunged into Tier 4 - meaning all non-essential businesses, including pubs, will be shut.
Meanwhile, millions more will be faced with tough Tier 3 rules, which also means pubs will have to shut their doors.
Linda Thomas, a 69-year-old librarian from St Mary's, said the news Scilly stays open is "no time for jubilation".
She said residents worry about their relatives on the mainland and the risk of the virus coming to the isles - which only have one small hospital and a high elderly population.
The total lack of awareness and arrogance of these people is staggering.
Barbara Simpson
"Having seen our family and friends in Cornwall go from a Tier 1 to a Tier 3 in under a week because of mindless selfish people from higher tiers travelling down is very disturbing," Ms Thomas said.
"We know that some of these people were heading to the islands and I have no doubt that some made it."
Another islander, Barbara Simpson, 78, said: "Those who freely admit they have come to Scilly to get away from the virus obviously have no idea (or don't care) of the risk they pose to us.
"The total lack of awareness and arrogance of these people is staggering."
Both women said they would not be visiting a pub or restaurant for New Year's Eve on the island even though they will be open, with the rule of six and table service in place.
However Tim Jones, who moved to St Mary's from London six years ago, said he and his partner would be wearing fancy dress to his local in Old Town.
"We are making the most of it for the children, but finish by 7pm," said the 55-year-old IT consultant.
Jonathan Smith, a councillor for St Martin's who also runs a small organic fruit and vegetable farm, said remaining in the lowest tier of restrictions is a relief but "no great surprise" as they have had no recorded Covid-19 cases since September.
Areas heading into Tiers 3 and 4 at midnight
Joining areas already in Tier 4 from tomorrow are:
- Leicester City
- Leicestershire (Oadby and Wigston, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Blaby, Charnwood, North West Leicestershire, Melton)
- Lincolnshire (City of Lincoln, Boston, South Kesteven, West Lindsey, North Kesteven, South Holland, East Lindsey)
- Northamptonshire (Corby, Daventry, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, Northampton, South Northamptonshire, Wellingborough)
- Derby and Derbyshire (Derby, Amber Valley, South Derbyshire, Bolsover, North East Derbyshire, Chesterfield, Erewash, Derbyshire Dales, High Peak)
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire (Gedling, Ashfield, Mansfield, Rushcliffe, Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood, Nottinghamshire, Broxtowe)
- Birmingham and Black Country (Dudley, Birmingham, Sandwell, Walsall, Wolverhampton)
- Coventry
- Solihull
- Warwickshire (Rugby, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Warwick, North Warwickshire, Stratford-upon-Avon)
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (East Staffordshire, Stafford, South Staffordshire, Cannock Chase, Lichfield, Staffordshire Moorlands, Newcastle under Lyme, Tamworth, Stoke-on-Trent)
- Lancashire (Burnley, Pendle, Blackburn with Darwen, Ribble Valley, Blackpool, Preston, Hyndburn, Chorley, Fylde, Lancaster, Rossendale, South Ribble, West Lancashire, Wyre)
- Cheshire and Warrington (Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Warrington)
- Cumbria (Eden, Carlisle, South Lakeland, Barrow-in-Furness, Copeland, Allerdale)
- Greater Manchester (Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan)
- Tees Valley (Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, Stockton-on-Tees )
- North East (County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Sunderland)
- Gloucestershire (Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Cotswolds, Tewkesbury, Stroud, Cheltenham)
- Somerset Council (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, South Somerset)
- Swindon
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Isle of Wight
- New Forest
The following areas will be in Tier 3 from tomorrow:
- Rutland
- Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin
- Worcestershire (Bromsgrove, Malvern Hills, Redditch, Worcester, Wychavon, Wyre Forest)
- Herefordshire
- Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, Wirral, St Helens)
- York & North Yorkshire (Scarborough, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Selby, Craven, Ryedale, Harrogate, City of York)
- Bath and North East Somerset
- Devon, Plymouth, Torbay (East Devon, Exeter, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge, West Devon, Plymouth, Torbay)
- Cornwall
- Dorset
- Wiltshire
"It's an interesting paradox that Scilly remains the only place left in Tier 1," he said.
"We are probably the place in the country for fewest options for travel, shopping and eating out in the winter months."
Mr Smith added that Scilly had struggled over the summer as most of its economy is tourism-based, but stressed that outsiders should not travel to the islands for a "New Year or winter holiday".
In a statement, the Council of the Isles of Scilly urged islanders to stay local for their New Year's Eve celebrations.
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"Please consider whether the risk of spreading the virus on a single night out is worth jeopardising the massive effort made to keep our community and services safe so far this year," it said.
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"As we have previously advised, just because you can do something, doesn't necessarily mean you should, so please consider the Prime Minister's advice to 'see in the new year safely at home.'
"We strongly urge anyone planning to travel to the islands against this advice to reconsider, in light of what bringing the virus to the islands could mean for our community, particularly at this time of year."
