Column by Stroud MP Siobhan Baillie.

Lockdown will thankfully ease substantially this weekend with pubs, restaurants, museums and hairdressers all able to reopen and I know this has been positively received.

The new rules also allow a visit to another household too or we can now go away on a trip or have friends and family visit the area. I’m personally looking forward to getting out and about after weeks inside with a new-born baby and visiting some of our fab local pubs to support a key part of our communities.

We can all now make plans to increase efforts to get behind Stroud businesses and local tourism to support the hospitality trade and encourage visitors to the area. I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to get Stroud back open for business.

Some people are, however, nervous about the changes. They do not want to go out or be near groups of people. I respect those concerns and I hope others will too.

But we also need to support our economy and get it moving as soon as possible, and as safely as possible, otherwise jobs and businesses will be lost. I believe this easing is balanced and proportionate. Nevertheless, Covid is not going away and there remains a risk but, with ongoing scientific and medical interventions, 1 metre plus social distancing and taking personal responsibility, we know now we can actively reduce that risk and rebuild the nation.

Much focus has been directed towards the nation’s health in the light of coronavirus. The PM has reportedly shed weight following his brush with death after contracting the virus.We have learned this new disease affects people who are obese and part of protecting ourselves from second spike is to be as healthy as possible. In Stroud, we are blessed with beautiful space to walk, run and cycle. Please share your favourite walks online with friends