A York barbershop says it will stay open – despite being ordered to close by the council for breaking Covid rules.
Q Gentlemen’s Barbers in 31 Bishopthorpe Road has now racked up £33,000 in fines after receiving 12 fixed penalty notices for breaking coronavirus regulations.
Yesterday (Thursday) City of York Council ordered it to shut for a week to ‘to enable the premises to put in the necessary measures to keep people safe’.
But in a message sent to YorkMix, the owners said: “Q Gentlemen’s Barbers will remain OPEN, we have integrity in our actions and we can clearly outline and back up our claims that our governments actions are UNLAWFUL.”
They said: “Q Gentlemen’s Barbers is lawfully operational business whose deeds are archived under COMMON LAW JURISDICTION. (Notice on the property).
“The directors are operating well within the parameters of the LAW.”
They said they have served a “mask liability notice” on the council asking questions about the science behind the order to wear masks indoors.
“York city council failed to reply to the hand served notice,” they said.
And they added: “Let it be clear that we will not take notice to any parliamentary acts, statues, rules or regulations that infringe upon our inalienable rights.
“We have the right to freedom of speech, freedom of choice, freedom to earn a living. Not one customer has contracted Covid in or on the premises of Q Gentlemen’s Barbers.”
Thank you for reporting concerns
The barbershop was ordered to close by the council from 6pm yesterday, until 6pm on May 20.
Now the council says it is investigating reports that the business has reopened today.
Matt Boxall, head of public protection at City of York Council, said: “A total of 12 fixed penalty notices have now been served by City of York Council on Q Gentlemen’s Barbers York Ltd of 31 Bishopthorpe Road, York, and its directors with a total fine sum of £33,000.
“We are aware of and are investigating reports of this business remaining open.
“Thank you to all those reporting their concerns about this and other businesses: it is important to continue to do so.”
Additional reporting: Chloe Laversuch, Local Democracy Reporter