North East Derbsyhire MP Lee Rowley responds to constituents' plight amid Tier 4 restrictions

Residents, particularly from Killamarsh and Dronfield, have recently taken their frustrations to Facebook as their neighbouring areas in South Yorkshire are placed under Tier 3.

For instance, some residents in Killamarsh are forced to make an almost 20-mile round trip to Chesterfield to do their shopping instead of Crystal Peaks in Sheffield - which is minutes away.

Mr Rowley said while he always fights for North East Derbyshire to be in the lowest tier possible given the situation locally, Covid-19 case rates in Derbyshire continue to rise.

WEATHER: Snow alert sounded for Derbyshire

He said: “We are entering a really difficult few weeks with coronavirus the number of people in hospital across England with coronavirus higher than back in the Spring.

"I will always fight for North East Derbyshire to be in the lowest tier possible given the situation locally but, at the current time and particularly with this emerging new variant, rates in Derbyshire are trending back up and we have to avoid the Royal having challenges in the coming weeks.

"Sheffield currently has lower coronavirus rates than Derbyshire and so, for now, it is in a lower tier – just as we were in a lower tier in October, and could do more, when Sheffield had higher rates than us then.

"We wish them well and our continuing job is to keep working at getting these rates down in our patch.

CORONAVIRUS: Number of Covid-19 patients at Chesterfield Royal Hospital around the same as during April peak

"If residents have any questions about what that means for work, bubbles or travel, please just drop me a line and I would be happy to answer them."

However, he assured his constituents that there is an end in sight with the vaccine being administered to thousands of people across North Derbyshire over recent days.

"In the meantime we have to keep bearing down on the virus in this long, final and very difficult final lap," he said.

Under tier 4 restrictions, non-essential shops, hairdressers, and leisure and entertainment venues must close, with a new “stay at home” message introduced.

However, people who need to travel for education or childcare are exempt, and exercise is unlimited.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.