CONCERN has been raised about the return of face-to-face Arthuret Parish Council meetings this month.

Vice chairman councillor Gordon Routledge voiced fears over the safety of representatives after the Government ordered local authority’s to stop online meetings following a recent court case over Covid rules.

At a virtual meeting on Tuesday evening, parish clerk Karen Johnson confirmed the online arrangements were to stop by today (May 7) and said a risk assessment would be done to ensure it was safe to meet.

However Cllr Routledge said: “It is disappointing that council’s will be required to hold these meetings.

“We’ll have to do it but I disagree with the fact. We should have been allowed to make a decision about our safety.

“We’ve had to be locked down and kept down for the last year and now we have been told that you have to have a meeting whether you want one or not.

“They are denying us the opportunity to decide when we stop having the online meetings.

“Everyone in local government is being overruled regarding our own safety, they don’t know our personal circumstances.”

Councillor John Mallinson, leader of the city council, who was attending in his capacity as a ward representative, said: “I don’t disagree with Gordon’s sentiments however the Government are quite resolute.”

The use of Longtown Community Centre at Arthuret Road was also mooted as a safer venue for the next meeting as it was larger than the council centre

The council’s Annual Meeting and Annual Parish Meeting will be held on May 17.