Leicester lockdown: Boundary line branded 'stupid' by residents

Residents on a street cut in half by the Leicester lockdown boundary line have branded it "stupid".

Some addresses on Bowhill Grove are now subject to the tighter restrictions introduced on Monday, while others are not.

One resident said people living in the lockdown area could easily walk over the line to a nearby pub.

Leicestershire County Council said the boundary had been drawn up rapidly and was "an imprecise science".

It comes as shadow health secretary and Leicester South MP Jonathan Ashworth said people in the city were confused by the rules.

A map showing the boundary of the lockdown zone was made public on Tuesday morning before a postcode tool allowing people to check whether they lived inside the affected area was launched.

Paula Meadows, 51, whose home on Bowhill Grove falls inside the line, said: "The government don't know what they're doing. Where they've drawn the line is just stupid.

"It's playing with numbers. How can it start on one side of the road and not the other? If we're on lockdown it should be the whole place.

"And how are they going to police it? If the pub round the corner opens there will be an open pub within walking distance where you can get a pint. What's stopping people from going? It's ridiculous."

Kay Patel, 42, lives further along the road from Mrs Meadows - and just outside the boundary.

She called for signs to be erected in the street - which is about 500m long - "like when they do road repairs".

"This road is not a clear boundary," she said. "We're out of lockdown, but beyond the bus stop is not.

"People just walk out of the lockdown area. It needs signs and barriers."

Children who live in Leicester but go to school outside the lockdown boundaries have been told to stay at home.

St Luke's Primary School, which is outside the boundary, has said it is "deeply sorry" to families affected.

Head teacher Paul Galvin said: "It might be difficult for families who are inside the lockdown zone - as we are just outside the boundary - especially if they are not children of critical workers."

Analysis by Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit

We now know that Leicester has had the most cases per population, but we don't know who is currently seeing their cases rise or increase the most.

Public Health England has now published for the first time the full figures of positive cases in each local authority in England in the week to 21 June.

This shows why the government was so worried - Leicester's rate of new infections was more than double the next highest, Bradford. These figures are now 10 days old, however.

What's come as a surprise to many people is that the government's public data on cases, updated daily, shows a much lower rate of infections in Leicester.

This is because it only includes so-called Pillar 1 tests - those in hospitals and involving healthcare workers.

The bulk of Leicester's infections have been discovered under Pillar 2 tests done outside of hospital.

Having this new breakdown of both sets of test results is going to be vital in determining where else may need to be subject to local lockdown.

Mike Sandys, Leicestershire County Council's director of public health, said the lockdown map had been "a rapid piece of work", drawn up by the county council, Leicester City Council and Public Health England.

He said it was based on "PHE expert data on where cases are".

He added: "We've tried to make those lines make sense to people. It's largely aligned with the M1 and the A46 and the east of the city boundary.

"It's an imprecise science and we were working at great pace to get it done."

Leicestershire Police Chief Constable Simon Cole has said the force is "thinking about all options" after being asked if roadblocks could be imposed to enforce the lockdown in Leicester.

Mr Cole said police hoped "common sense will prevail" and would only enforce restrictions as a last resort.

Meanwhile, crisp-maker Walkers has confirmed 28 members of staff at its Leicester factory have tested positive for coronavirus.

The company, which employs 1,400 people at its Beaumont Leys site, said there had been a "steady rise" in confirmed cases in June.

Earlier, Jonathan Ashworth told ITV's Good Morning Britain a lack of detail from the government on local lockdown rules had left people "anxious" and "very, very scared".

"People want clarity. People want to do the right thing. They just want some clear guidance," he said.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "Both nationally and locally, steps have been taken to ensure that people have all the information they need."

The local lockdown is due to be reviewed from 18 July.

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