BRACKNELL’S MP says Bracknell Forest should face the most relaxed coronavirus restrictions when the second national lockdown ends next month.

The government announced its plans to return to a tiered-system following the lapse of the lockdown on December 2 but as yet it is unclear which areas will be made to follow which rules.

Bracknell Forest has one of the lowest infection rates in England at 93 cases recorded per 100,000 people in the past seven days, according to latest public health data.

READ MORE: Coronavirus map predicts Bracknell fate after lockdown

This is also the lowest rate in Berkshire, with the closest local authority in the county being West Berkshire at 104.1.

Wokingham Borough, an area Bracknell MP James Sunderland is also a representative for, has a marginally higher infection rate of 106.4.

READ MORE: What will change from December 2? A snapshot after Boris Johnson's announcement

In light of these comparatively-low infection rates, the MP called on the government to make sure both boroughs he represents face the most-relaxed restrictions when the tier system is revived.

Mr Sunderland told the News: “I wrote last week across government requesting an end to lockdown on December 2nd and a return to the tier system.

“The government is not going to suddenly lift all restrictions on the promise of vaccines being rolled out so this was always the best compromise.

READ MORE: Latest coronavirus figures for areas across Berkshire

“The announcement we got was exactly that. Bracknell and Wokingham have been low R [infection rate] areas throughout the pandemic and it is right that tougher measures should not be imposed on areas with low R [infection] rates.

“So I am clear that we should go back into tier 1.

“I've had nothing formally from the DHSC [Department of Health and Social Care] on what tier we will be going into but I did speak to No.10 yesterday and made it clear that low infection areas must stay in tier 1.

“We've got to accept some manageable risk, get through this and back to normal.”

Tier-one areas are classed as being at ‘medium-alert’, whereas tiers two and three are classed as ‘high-alert’ and ‘very high-alert’ respectively.

Being in tier one means the rule of six applies indoors and outdoors, shops are allowed open, indoor leisure such as gyms can open, entertainment venues can welcome punters back, and bars pubs and restaurants must take table service but should stop taking orders at 10pm, with full closure required by 11pm.

READ MORE: Coronavirus in Bracknell - which area has had the fewest infections?

Tier two restrictions are broadly similar to tier one, but households are not allowed to mix indoors apart from in support bubbles. The rule of six still applies outdoors. Bars, pubs and restaurants can only serve alcohol with substantial meals but the same ordering and closing times apply as in tier one.

Tier three is the harshest of the three tiers with household mixing indoors and most outdoor places forbidden apart from in support bubbles. Pubs, bars and restaurants are closed in tier three, with the exception of sales through takeaways or drive-thru services. Shops are allowed to stay open, but indoor entertainment venues must close. Group activities should not take place at leisure centres.

Across all three tiers, everybody should work from home if they can do so.

Mr Sunderland added: “Realistically, government policy has to be determined by the scientific data but my view is that the data now supports this.

READ MORE: The tiers Bracknell Forest could be placed in

“Getting back to normal is ultimately about the degree of risk that the government is willing to take but it's a manageable risk that must now be taken.

“Thank you to the people of Bracknell for sticking with it. It's been an appallingly tough year for so many.”

Tiers for local authority areas will be announced by the government on Thursday, November 26.

When asked, Bracknell Forest Council said it was unaware which tier the borough would be placed in.