Stratford-on-Avon District Council has sent the Government a Judicial Review pre-action protocol letter over its decision to place the area in Tier 3.
The council is arguing the data does now warrant the district being placed in the highest restriction level, and call the decision ‘arbitrary and irrational’.
Council leader Tony Jefferson, said: ‘This is not an action we take lightly, however none of the data we see warrants Stratford-on-Avon District being placed in Tier 3. It is very disappointing that the government did not use much greater granularity in deciding on tiers.
He added: ‘The prospect of a review as late as 16 December is no consolation. Most hospitality businesses will not now open before Christmas, I understand the effort and logistics make this very difficult. The consequences for business survival and unemployment could be significant. This against the context of Stratford-on-Avon being seen as the 4th hardest hit council area in the country.
’This is why we have taken the dramatic step of initiating a Judicial Review pre action protocol.’
The council is requesting it be put into Tier 1 or Tier 2 instead.
Many councils have reacted with ‘surprise, dismay and disbelief’ as vast swathes of the country face up to life under the harshest COVID-19 tier.
