A HOLIDAY lets owner who said she had allowed NHS workers to use her lodges free of charge described a £2,000 fine for breaching Covid restrictions as a ‘kick in the teeth’ in the wake of the ‘partygate’ scandal.
Durham County Council took legal action against Tracey Robinson, owner of West Farm Holiday Lets in Cold Hesledon, Seaham, after she was found to be still operating during last year’s national lockdown.
But the 50-year-old, who said she supported vulnerable people in the early stages of the pandemic, said her guests were there for respite and not ‘parties’.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Downing Street staff are now under investigation by the Metropolitan Police following the publication of a damning report by civil servant Sue Grey regarding allegations of parties at Number 10.
Robinson said: “The irony is that I have been taken to court for this and they could have been breaking the law the whole time through.
“It has been a major kick in the teeth. It is unbelievable. Never once were there any parties up here.
“It was never anything like it was in Downing Street. It is ridiculous.” Police officers visited the holiday accommodation last February after receiving reports of a potential breach of Covid regulations which, at the time, prohibited holiday lets from operating.
Durham County Council said officers spoke to three women who were using one of the lets and confirmed they had paid to stay at the accommodation for the evening.
Police then witnessed a second set of people in a nearby let, who also confirmed they did not live at the site and were staying in the holiday accommodation.
Appearing at Peterlee Magistrates Court recently, Robinson pleaded ‘not guilty’ to breaching the Covid regulations in the belief that the people staying at the site were NHS staff using the holiday lets for respite.
However, magistrates heard that the women had paid an advanced deposit to stay in the accommodation and were not carers using the holiday let for respite or using it for work purposes, which were the requirements for exemption.
Magistrates found that the incident breached the Tier 4 lockdown restrictions, and that Robinson was guilty of operating a business in contravention of covid regulations.
Robinson, 50, was ordered to pay a £2,000 fine, £190 victim surcharge and £672 in costs.
Joanne Waller, Durham County Council’s head of community protection, said: “We have been investigating a number of complaints into the operation of West Farm during lockdown restrictions, which over the last year has resulted in multiple enforcement notices and legal action.
“We take breaches of this kind very seriously, and this case has shown that Robinson was indeed breaching restrictions during a significant time in the coronavirus pandemic, putting the safety of others at risk.”
Read more Woman fined for throwing cigarette on the floor
Speaking to the Northern Echo after the hearing, Robinson said she had used her properties to support vulnerable people and care workers in the early days of the pandemic.
She said: “Both of my lodges were given to the NHS from the start, completely free of charge.
“I had nurses staying in both for the first few weeks. Then I rang Durham County Council and offered them up for emergency housing because domestic violence had risen quite rapidly, and also for people with mental health issues.
“I gave one to Veterans in Crisis and they used it for six months free of charge.
“I have given countless nights away to vulnerable such as local people with cancer and autistic children.”
Robinson said there was no risk of people spreading Covid between visits.
She said: “It is self check-in and self check-out. You don’t see anyone.
“There was literally no risk of spreading Covid. They were coming from their house to here.
“Me and my cleaner cleaned everyday. It was thoroughly clean and people were doing tests.
“They were for people desperately in need.”
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