WARRINGTON'S MPs have reacted after the Prime Minister announced the roadmap out of lockdown.

Speaking in the House of Commons this afternoon, Monday, Boris Johnson revealed a four-stage plan which could see England’s coronavirus restrictions lifted by June 21.

Labour’s Warrington North MP Charlotte Nichols says the announcement was an ‘incredibly important’ moment for the country and for the community in Warrington.

“The amazing NHS vaccination programme, combined with the sacrifices made by residents staying at home, have allowed the process of cautious reopening to begin,” she said.

“It is right that school reopenings are being prioritised but this must be done safely, including by implementing a ventilation and filtration programme for public buildings.

“While the roadmap outlined will enable sectors across the economy to begin plans for reopening with provisional dates to work towards, their continued closure underlines the urgency of the economic support required.

“With the hospitality and leisure industries not able to reopen until April 12 at the earliest, in next week's Budget the Chancellor must step up and provide them with the sectoral financial support they desperately need, so that when this is over we will still have our brilliant pubs, gyms and restaurants to go to.”

Warrington South Tory MP Andy Carter has also responded.

He says: “I welcome the roadmap set out by the PM earlier this afternoon, it’s quite rightly cautious and gives a sensible pathway to easing restrictions with the aim of having all legal restrictions lifted by the middle of June.

“Getting all children back to school remains a national priority and two weeks today all students will be back in the classroom, that’s good from an educational perspective, from a mental health perspective and a parenting perspective, allowing mums and dads to focus on returning to work.

“Over 50,000 people have now been vaccinated in Warrington, the overwhelming majority of the first four categories and over the next four weeks that process of protecting the most vulnerable will continue, meaning the phased reopening of non-essential retail and hospitality can then begin (in) April and May.

“In conversations with the Chancellor, I’ve raised the need to continue to support those sectors of the economy most impacted including aviation and hospitality. I look forward to the budget next week where further support can be confirmed.

“While this is a significant moment, we now have a route map, we must all still remain vigilant as we continue to vaccinate priority groups, now isn’t the time to ease back on social distancing and wearing a face mask remains important indoors. 

“The lockdown remains in place until the end of March and local hospital is still under significant pressure, only now recovering to the levels we saw in the April peak last year.”

Stephen Fitzsimons, chief executive of Warrington Chamber of Commerce, says it has been a ‘long, dark winter’ and the sight of a deserted town centre is ‘one that Warringtonians will be hoping is never repeated’.

He added: “Today’s announcement will therefore be welcomed by many businesses who were frustrated by the disjointed approach from central Government earlier in the pandemic.

“They needed a clear and definitive path towards being able to do what they do best – investing in innovation and creating employment.

“The Prime Minister went some way towards delivering this today, with potential dates for reopening and a week’s notice to get prepared.

“Businesses can start looking forward once more, although with universal credit claims doubling in Warrington and business failures on the rise, we have not yet seen the full economic cost from this horrible pandemic.”