Warning to North Yorkshire businesses taking part in "Great Reopening"
A number of businesses in the North have joined a campaign to reopen on Saturday
Last updated 28th Jan 2021
North Yorkshire Police and other local authorities have said they will take "ultimate action" against businesses who have said they are taking part in what's been dubbed as the 'Great Reopening'.
Officials from across the county met in yesterday's Local Resilience Forum and discussed the illegal campaign which is set to take place on Saturday (30 January 2021).
Richard Webb, Corporate Director of Health and Adult Services at North Yorkshire County Council, said he hopes local businesses will ignore the campaign.
He said: "We were made aware of a campaign doing the rounds which urges businesses to have what they called a 'Great Reopening' on the 30th of January.
"I thank businesses for everything they've been doing, but my plea to all businesses is to ignore this campaign. There will be no Great Reopening.
"My warning to those who choose to take part in this campaign is that the enforcement authorities, police, trading standards, environmental health and others will have no choice but to take ultimate action against you.
"I would ask that you continue to act as you have been doing throughout this lockdown and before and that we fight together this deadly virus."
The campaign was started by a Bradford business owner who has already been handed over £17,000 in fines for breaking lockdown rules.
The @we_r_one_x Instagram account appears to have been removed, but a back up account has been set up which has nearly 5,000 followers calling for businesses to reopen on Saturday.
One user commented on the back-up Instagram account: "You need to get everyone on board for this to work"
Another posted: "Is there anyway we can find out who might be opening? So that we can support them."