The roadmap out of lockdown has been set out to help navigate a way back to more normal times. Schools are set to return next week from 8th March, and from then nominated named visitors can visit loved ones in care home. Before Easter, on 29th March, the rule of six will return, enabling outdoor meetings to be permitted, as will a range of outdoor sports. From 12th April, non-essential retail will reopen along with indoor leisure facilities, including gyms.

All these steps have been made possible by the successful rollout of the vaccine programme. Having visited the vaccination centres in Macclesfield and Poynton, and Andrews Pharmacy over recent weeks, it’s impressive to see the positive progress that has been made. We are all very grateful for the dedicated work of local doctors, nurses, medical support teams and volunteers in taking forward the rollout.

It is also vital that we deliver economic recovery plans to back local businesses and create more jobs over the months ahead. The roadmap sets out how outdoor hospitality will re-open from 12th April, with indoor hospitality following from 17th May. At the Budget on 3rd March, the Chancellor will set out his latest plans on economic support packages.

Locally, I am continuing to work with Macclesfield Hospitality Action and other stakeholders in our communities to support local pubs, restaurants and cafes as we move forward with the roadmap. Building on the achievements of the CheshireWorks4U digital jobs fairs, I am now actively supporting the NorthWestWorks4U event planned for early April to help better connect job seekers with available employment opportunities in our area.  

Let’s go on playing our part in keeping public health rules to help ensure that we can return to a greater sense of normality in the months ahead.