COVID-19 One Year On: Message from the Mayor of Hailsham

One year on from the first national coronavirus lockdown, the Mayor of Hailsham Councillor Paul Holbrook has addressed the town’s residents:

“This week marks the one-year anniversary of the start of the first COVID-19 lockdown. Like the rest of the country, we in Hailsham have no doubt reflected on the events of the past twelve months and the adverse effect the dreadful pandemic has had on our communities.

The last year has been a time of great uncertainty – and indeed, major upheaval for most of us – where we have had to acclimatise to the ‘new norm’ and make sizeable sacrifices to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and the community at large safe.

A year down the line and, although we still have some way to go in terms of combating the spread of COVID-19, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel and can take great pride in the way we have adapted our lives during the past twelve months to deal with the situation and protect our local community.

From the onset of the pandemic, Hailsham Town Council has worked with community partners and helped fund projects which provide essential support to the vulnerable and those at risk, as well as maintain those essential services that we all depend on.

Our local NHS staff, carers and emergency response teams have worked tirelessly from the start, alongside many other council services that have all continued to do a sterling job on behalf of the residents in Hailsham.

It has been both heart-warming and humbling to see Hailsham residents come together to help each other, from the aforementioned people to our amazing partners in the local community and devoted cohorts of volunteers. All have demonstrated their determination and dedication to fight this horrible pandemic, and it just goes to show that Hailsham’s resilience and strong community spirit has truly shone during the past year.

I’m proud of Hailsham residents, businesses and community groups for their support from the outset, support which has enabled us to reach this point and finally get to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you to all of you for this.

It has been a testing time for all of us, but there are many positives which have come to light in recent weeks, with a new and more optimistic outlook for us – and a recovery that will put us back on track both socially and economically.

Whilst it is good news that restrictions should continue to ease in the coming months, with the relaxation of rules governing who and where can meet other people outdoors and the gradual reopening of the local economy, it is essential that we all continue to follow the rules so that the target dates proposed by the Government can be met.

As we all know, the ‘reopening of society’ is dependent upon a range of factors, such as a continued reduction in COVID-19 infection rates and hospital admissions, in addition to the continued success of the vaccination programme, which has been highly effective to date in helping to reduce the number of hospitalisations and deaths.

Now that the most vulnerable groups have been vaccinated, it would be all too easy to become complacent and place less importance on maintaining social distance and following other COVID-protection guidelines. Given the continuing risks of a third wave, that would be a serious mistake to make.

Please continue to follow public health advice to protect yourself and your loved ones by following the latest social contact rules, wearing a mask or face covering in indoor public spaces, and sanitise your hands on a regular basis. Your efforts have saved lives and will continue to save lives.

So, as we move forward, it is vital that we all continue to do our bit to help us create a new future and return to normality in our everyday lives. A future that we can return to spending time with family and loved ones, and one where we can visit our town centre for some retail therapy or meet friends for a drink. These are all small steps we have to take in the coming months which will make a huge difference!

Take good care of yourselves and stay safe.”