The risk of people travelling into Colchester from Tier Three areas of Essex is a "massive worry", a local councillor has warned.

Councillor Mike Lilley, the cabinet member for Communities Wellbeing and Public Safety in Colchester said they are "absolutely worried" there will be an influx of people travelling into town from elsewhere in Essex.

Currently, Colchester remains one of just three areas in Essex still in Tier Two, where its infection rates are currently the second lowest in the county.

The rest of the county is now in Tier Three, where pubs, restaurants and cafes are only able to operate takeaway or delivery services.

But with Colchester still open, Cllr Mike Lilley said they are worried residents will travel into the town to utilise the still-open venues.

"It's an incredibly big worry for us"

"We are absolutely worried, I spoke to one of the night club owners yesterday about this and it is a big worry," he said.

"If they see you are open, they could turn up here from the South of Essex and that will be down to the discretion of people.

"You can ask where they live but you can't do anything.

"It's an incredibly big worry for us. If there is a big influx of people from elsewhere in Essex then we will end up in Tier Three ourselves and that will affect our businesses."

Despite this, Cllr Lilley said he can't see how anything will be able to prevent people from travelling into Colchester.

He said: "I would say to people to look at your conscience and whether you would travel elsewhere in case you take the disease with you.

"It is a massive worry and the government hasn't helped by splitting Essex up like this.

"We don't want to be in Tier Three, we don't really want to be in Tier Two but now they have left us in a no-man's land where there will be an influx of people, which will push our rates up.

"People will say 'let's go to Colchester, get a meal and go shopping' or use our free parking for late night shopping."

"Please think of others before you travel"

Colchester High Street at night
Colchester High Street at night

Cllr Lilley added that it is impossible for businesses to police who is coming into their venues.

"They should have either done the whole county where figures would stay down but, if we were in Tier Three, people would probably still want to come here shopping," he said.

"I would just say to people - please think of others before you travel because the place that you live in has a higher percentage of people with the virus and you will affect other people.

"It's hard to ask people to do but look at your consience.

"We just ask people to think about others and try not to travel to Colchester. We want people to come and support our businesses but it is down to the individual people."

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Simon Crow, Councillor for Castle Ward in Colchester, agreed there is a risk of people flocking into the town.

However, he said the fact non-essential businesses remain open in Tier Three areas of Essex should help keep some people from travelling in.

"As far as hospitality is concerned, there's that risk although non-essential businesses shops are still open in tier two," he said.

"Please consider the situation in your area, if you have been put in Tier Three it's really in your own hands to try and get those cases down so you can move back down a tier.

"I do hope we can keep our cases down, I certainly think whe you go into the town centre which is my ward that places like the shopping centre Culver Square and Bid should be applauded for what they have done, which I believe has gone some way to helping stop the spread - as well as the awareness of people in Colchester.

Cllr Crow added: "It's important that people stick by the rules and the restrictions in place."