Chichester mayor’s open letter on lockdown

The infection rate in Chichester was low and although it had started to creep up, there seemed little justification for a drastic action which leads to despair among city-centre businesses.

Are we back to square one with the pandemic? The answer to that is no. The first lockdown worked. The infection rates and deaths did fall. It bought us time and gave us a valuable respite during the long summer days: time to find out more about the virus; how it spreads; who is most vulnerable and what clinical treatments and drugs work best. Time to develop that all-important vaccine.

Now, however, it is winter, which means less time in garden or allotment if you are lucky enough to have one.

We still need to take daily exercise and I can think of no better exercise on a cold winter evening than to stroll into Chichester with its streets and Christmas tree all brightly lit and sparkling in the crisp air. Where else would one rather be?

OK – on a beach in the Bahamas might do, but that will have to wait for now.

This second lockdown will seriously affect the businesses which are struggling to keep going.

There is the real prospect that many will not survive, after losing the opportunity to trade during so much of the all-important run-up to Christmas.

So, I urge you to shop locally however and whenever you can.

Without our help I genuinely fear for the future of the city centre.

Finally, I believe there is light at the end of this distressingly dark tunnel and soon the vaccine will be rolling out.

However, It is critical for all our sakes that we stick to the rules and support each other. For now, please stay safe, well and strong.