Dear Member,
As many of you will be aware the government have made an announcement this afternoon regarding London and parts of Hertfordshire and Essex moving into Tier 3 restrictions from Wednesday. For now, Dacorum borough will remain in Tier 2 but the neighbouring borough of Three Rivers has moved into Tier 3 along with Watford, Hertsmere and Broxbourne.
Sadly, this change does have implications for some of our members as only essential travel is permitted for certain reasons out of or into Tier 3 areas. According to the guidance from England Athletics (See link below) athletes aged over 18 living in Tier 3 areas (such as Three Rivers) are not allowed to travel into Tier 2 areas (such as Dacorum) for Training or Competition. So unfortunately, from Wednesday I am afraid that any of our adult members living in a Tier 3 area are should not attend club training sessions.
I know this change will mean that some of our members will miss out on club sessions even though we have only just come out of lockdown. However, the guidance is quite clear in that you should avoid travelling outside your area and reduce the number of journeys you make wherever possible. There are exemptions such as travelling to work or for medical reasons but not for the purposes of training or competition. Hence the guidance which from the governing body which has been in place for several weeks as other areas of the country have been in Tier 3 for quite some time.
It should also be pointed out that members living in a Tier 2 area (i.e Dacorum) should not travel into Tier 3 areas in order to train.
This link sets out the guidance in place for each tier.
There is some good news in that this restriction does not apply to those members who are under 18. They can continue to travel from Tier 3 into Tier 2 in order to attend training sessions. Similarly, coaches are also allowed to travel from Tier 3 in order to take sessions.
As it stands these restrictions will be relaxed for the Christmas period from the 23rd to the 27th December but that may be subject to change.
The news today is hugely disappointing, and I am deeply sorry to be communicating this to you. The last thing I would wish to do is to ask that some of our members stay away from club sessions. However with a heavy heart that is what I am afraid I must do. I would ask that all our members please adhere to the government guidance and that set out by our governing body. Just as you have done in these past few months.
I know, that missing out on training with fellow club members rather pales into insignificance when compared to the difficulties that many people have had to face including the loss of loved ones or the loss of livelihoods, but it is still sad that it is happening and impacting on some of our members.
For the time being I ask for your understanding and co-operation in overcoming what is the latest in a series of seemingly never-ending challenges which this pandemic has presented to us.
I do not know how long the current situation will last but based on the experiences of some of the rest of the country, the restrictions will be in place for several weeks. And of course, it is always possible that Dacorum may move into Tier 3 in the near future. Although if that were to happen we would still be able to deliver training in a Covid Secure environment as we do now.
As always if I can answer any queries you might have or assist in any other way then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Take care of yourselves and each other,
Rob Deane
Chairman
Dacorum & Tring AC
