Businesses in Bolton handed fines after breaching town’s new local lockdown rules
Officials have confirmed that a number of businesses in Bolton have been handed fines after breaching the town’s new operational local lockdown restrictions.
A hairdressers in the suburb of Horwich and four takeaways spread across Bolton were identified as flouting the new set of rules, which came into force in the borough last Tuesday, and were thus each handed fines of £100.
According to a statement issued with Greater Manchester Police, Bolton Council said that workers at the hair salon were not wearing face coverings and correct social distancing was not in place.
It will now “remain closed indefinitely until Bolton Council is satisfied improvements have been made”.
The local authority added that it had also fined the takeaways – LA Pizza on Crompton Way, Grillicious on Tonge Moor Road, Allens Fried Chicken on Chorley Old Road, and Pizza Corner on Higher Market Street – £100 for operating after 10pm.
On Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there were 120 cases per 100,000 in Bolton, which made it the highest infection rate of any borough in the country.
He said that the rise in cases in the town was partly due to “socialising by people in their 20s and 30s” and that through the contact tracing system, they “identified a number of pubs at which the virus has spread significantly.”
Bolton Lockdown Restrictions
All hospitality venues (restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs) are restricted to takeaway only.
Restriction of operating hours meaning all venues, including takeaways, are required to close between 10pm to 5am.
A ban on mixing outside households/support bubbles in homes, gardens and public settings.
Additional restrictions on visitors at care homes and hospitals in the borough.
gov.uk
The council has previously closed a vape shop and a restaurant.
Councillor Hilary Fairclough said officials would continue to do spot checks, adding they would have “a zero-tolerance approach to those who flout the restrictions”.
Steph Parker – Deputy Chief Inspector at Greater Manchester Police – added: “While I thank the majority of the public and business owners for the sacrifices they have to make, there are a minority who are still not heeding the message”.