"Don't go nuts ahead of the lockdown", warns Plymouth council leader
Tudor Evans urges anyone tempted to have a last hurrah, to stay at home instead
"Please don’t go nuts tonight, COVID is tough enough to crack as it is" - that’s the message from Council leader Tudor Evans.
With a national lockdown due on Thursday, the Council and its partners are appealing to those tempted to have a last hurrah to stay at home.
He said: “The lockdown is not about spoiling your social life, it is about reducing the infection rate of a virus which has had a devastating impact on families up and down the country.
“We know people will be tempted to go out for one last night on the town but we are urging them to think twice.
“This lockdown is being imposed because the infection rate is too high and we are all too worried about the impact this will have on our friends, family, not to mention our hospital.”
The council has written to licensees to remind them of their obligations to make sure their premises are COVID-19 secure and to do all they can to ensure that those who do go out are safe and do not put each other at risk.
There will be extra police officers on patrol and the PARC rangers will also be on standby to make sure people behave and to stop large groups from gathering.
There will also be a special dispersal order in place giving police the power to move people.
The teams will be able to respond to calls away from the city centre, North Hill and the Barbican if the need arises. There will also be extra taxi marshals at the Barbican to help people get home.
Anyone who plans to go out is being warned they must book ahead and stay seated once inside.
Inside seating must be two metres apart or have screens to separate tables.
You can stand outside and drink if the pub has an outside area but you must try to keep two metres apart - don’t forget social distancing.
You can’t drink on the cobbled part of the Barbican and Quay, that is covered by a Public Space Protection Order and the police can pour your drink away if you become a nuisance.