Lincolnshire's leaders have united to demand the government reconsider the Tier 3 status being imposed on the whole of the county, including South Kesteven.

The leaders, including Coun Kelham Cooke of South Kesteven District Council and County Council leader Martin Hill, have written to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding the rethink.

They are also joined by Grantham and Stamford MP Gareth Davies and Deepings MP Sir John Hayes.

The politicians argue that the one-size fits all status for the entire county does not reflect the varying infection rates across the county.

This includes South Kesteven and South Holland having lower rates than some areas that will be in Tier 2.

They also note how despite much effort and sacrifice, the districts have left the lowest level Tier 1, after a nationwide lockdown, for a toughened Tier 3.

The letter said: "This blow will not only damage confidence and resolve, but risks reducing adherence to restrictions."

Instead, the council leaders call for Tiers to be awarded at district level, or to better reflect travel to work and similar movements, noting South Kesteven people are closer to Peterborough or Rutland and have little in common with Boston, Lincoln and East Lindsay where infection rates are higher.

The letter added: "Such a tailored, targeted approach to tackling the virus is sure to be welcomed by those who currently feel so aggrieved in the places we represent."

Similar arguments have been made in earlier statements from the leaders and the MPs when the Tier levels were announced last Thursday.

The letter comes as mounting opposition to the Government's Tier announcement has also been expressed by business leaders and residents in the Deepings, Stamford, and elsewhere in southern Lincolnshire.

The letter is published in full below:

The Rt. Honourable Boris Johnson MP

Prime Minister

Office of the Prime Minister

10 Downing Street, London

SW1A 2AA

30th November 2020 Dear Prime Minister, In response to the announcement that South Holland and South Kesteven are to be included in 'Tier Three' Covid restrictions, we are writing to you on behalf of those we represent to convey our profound disappointment. We recognise that throughout this unprecedented crisis, the Government has been forced to make difficult decisions in extraordinary circumstances. In seeking to safeguard the livelihoods, wellbeing and the health of our people - so protecting lives, particularly those of the elderly and clinically vulnerable, we appreciate your decency, dedication and determination. From the outset you have, rightly, repeated that the actions of the Secretary of State for Health are guided by the science, reassuring MPs that the current national lockdown would make a meaningful, positive difference in the fight against Covid-19. As such, we have supported you in the House of Commons and across our county in the towns and villages we represent. As the case rates in South Holland and South Kesteven are lower than scores of other areas soon to be within 'Tier Two' – including places that border them, we have serious concerns, on behalf of our constituents, about the methodology for arriving at this determination. Citizens of these two districts entered the latest national lockdown, sacrificing much of the fraternity and fulfilment that brings solace and solidarity at difficult times, having been in Tier One. They will emerge, and apparently remain for the foreseeable future, in Tier Three. This blow will not only damage confidence and resolve, but risks reducing adherence to restrictions. Owing to the size of our county and the distribution of its population, most of those living in rural South Lincolnshire have very limited contact with distant East Lindsey or Lincoln and little with Boston. Indeed, if they travel at all, our residents frequent neighbouring Peterborough, Norfolk or Rutland, all of which are in Tier Two. Therefore, an arbitrary county focus does not take account of the actual patterns of travel and consequent interactions of our residents. This considered, we urge you to reconsider the present arrangements for tiers in Lincolnshire. For the purpose of effectiveness, introducing restrictions based on either:

1. District's boundaries rather than the county as a whole, or

1. Boundaries that accurately reflect real patterns of routine journeys and communal engagement, so categorising the combined districts of South Holland and South Kesteven in the same tier as Peterborough, Norfolk and Rutland.

Such a tailored, targeted approach to tackling the virus is sure to be welcomed by those who currently feel so aggrieved in the places we represent. Yours sincerely,

Rt Hon Sir John Hayes CBE MP

South Holland and The Deepings

Gareth Davies MP

Grantham and Stamford

Cllr Martin Hill OBE

Leader of Lincolnshire County Council

The Lord Porter of Spalding CBE

Leader of South Holland District Council

Cllr Kelham Cooke

Leader of South Kesteven District Council cc. Rt Hon. Matt Hancock MP

Rt Hon. Michael Gove MP

Rt Hon. Mark Spencer MP, Chief Whip