Calderdale Council continues to work with licensed premises to help them operate safely and protect customers, staff and the community from the ongoing risk of COVID-19.
On Saturday 4 July, many Calderdale pubs, restaurants, hotels and other hospitality businesses started to reopen in line with national guidance.
As the virus is still in our communities and everyone’s safety always comes first, the Council contacted all licensed premises before they began reopening, to offer advice on safety measures and outline the support available.
The Council, in partnership with West Yorkshire Police and Halifax and Brighouse BIDs, continues to engage with hospitality businesses so that people can enjoy their leisure time safely and the whole community remains protected.
The majority of licensed premises are operating safely and following social distancing rules. However, in a small number of cases, the Council has had to take enforcement action. It has issued 14 advisory notices in relation to COVID-secure working to licenced premises across Calderdale. These premises will be revisited to ensure the advice has been acted on. Failure to comply with the advisory notice will result in an escalation of the Council’s enforcement powers.
Cllr Susan Press, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Services and Communities, said:
“Reopening hospitality businesses was a key step forward in our local economic recovery. We know they have had to quickly adapt to new ways of operating, and we continue to support and encourage them through this.
“We’re pleased that most licensed premises are following the safety requirements and doing their bit to control the spread of COVID-19. Unfortunately, a minority of businesses have not been implementing social distancing and we’ve had to crack down on them. Enforcement is a last resort in Calderdale, but COVID-19 is still a serious risk in our communities and we won’t hesitate to take action if needed, as everyone’s safety is our main concern.
“We urge the operators of local licensed premises, and the people visiting them, to do everything they can to help protect our whole borough from the virus. We must all play our part.”
Following advice from the Government, the Council has adapted the way it grants street licences for premises, to help businesses and customers follow safety and social distancing requirements. To make it easier for licensed premises to seat and serve customers outdoors, the Council has reduced the turnaround time for new pavement café licences to seven days (a licence is needed for permission to put tables and chairs on the pavement). Alcohol licensing changes will allow businesses with an existing on-sales licence to also serve alcohol for consumption off the premises and to make deliveries.
The Council is inviting businesses to share any suggestions they might have for longer-term changes to the highway that the Council could investigate to support them to reopen their business. To provide feedback, businesses are encouraged to use the interactive map developed jointly by the Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/safestreets(external link)
As COVID-19 is still within our community, we should all continue to keep at least two metres away from people outside our households wherever possible, wash our hands(external link) with soap and water often, for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching our face and follow the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it(external link)’ guidance to help keep ourselves and others safe. Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should stay at home and book a test(external link) as soon as possible, within five days of the symptoms starting. Please wear a face covering when travelling on public transport or in a taxi. It is also recommended that people wear face coverings whenever they are indoors with people who are not part of their household or bubble.
For up-to-date and reliable information about COVID-19, use trusted sources such as:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus(external link)
www.nhs.uk/coronavirus(external link)
www.calderdale.gov.uk/coronavirus
Licensees looking for more information can visit www.calderdale.gov.uk, which is being updated regularly. Find out more about pavement licences in Calderdale and alcohol and entertainment licences in Calderdale.