Coronavirus street wardens are to be introduced across Kent as the second national lockdown looms.

At least 10 Covid marshals will patrol high streets, town centres and shopping areas in the county. They will advise residents on social distancing rules.

The wardens will have no enforcement powers but will be trained to "manage conflict" and have been hired or are in the process of being recruited by several councils in the county, including Ashford, Folkestone and Hythe, Gravesham, Swale and Thanet.

A spokesman for Medway Council said: "We have been allocated £153,367 government funding for coronavirus compliance and enforcement activity. We are currently looking into ways to best use the funding to protect Medway’s residents, including options for introducing Covid marshals, and stop the virus from spreading."

Cllr Rick Everitt, who is the Labour leader at Thanet council said: "Having COVID-19 street wardens across the district will mean that we can help to manage our high streets and town centres and help them to thrive.”

However, Canterbury City Council has publicly called on Whitehall bosses to "urgently" help as it seeks to deliver the scheme. It has described the plans for a month-long national lockdown in November as "game-changing".

Boris Johnson's government has allocated more than £270,000 to local authorities in Kent to spend on various Covid compliance and enforcement activities, which will be used to protect residents. These include marshals.

The responsibilities of Covid wardens are wide ranging. They will encourage social distancing in very busy public areas, remind residents to wear a face covering where required and work with businesses on queue management.

Marshals will wear high-visibility vests and individuals can be existing council staff. They have been tasked to engage and encourage adherence to Covid-19 guidance. Enforcement remains the remit of Kent Police.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Local Government said: “We are giving councils unprecedented support during the pandemic with a package so far of £6.4 billion, including over £1.1 billion to support social care providers.

“Councils in Kent have received a total of £145.13m of emergency Covid-19 funding across all four tranches.”

Meanwhile, dozens of councils in England have been allocated a sum of money to spend on Covid-compliance activities. This comes from a total pot of £30m from the government. In Kent, many local authorities have welcomed the aid.

A Folkestone council spokesman said: “We have received additional funding from the government and this will be used to support our ongoing work in promoting compliance of the COVID-19 regulations across the district."

Tunbridge Wells council says it will be putting together an enforcement plan while in Thanet, two teams of two Covid-19 street wardens will be out and about in the area's high streets and town centres daily, from 9am to 6pm.

They will cover Margate High Street, the Old Town and Northdown Road, Broadstairs and Ramsgate high streets as well as Birchington and Westgate.

An Ashford council spokesman added: "We have been allocated £63,581. We are looking to appoint two marshals who will be offering business advice and monitoring compliance."

However some Kent councils have questioned the need for such ambassadors while others have called on the government to deliver swift support.

A Canterbury council spokesman said: "The imposition of new Covid-related restrictions by the government across England from Thursday is a game changer when it comes to the need for Covid marshals.

"We await, with interest, guidance from the government on what role they want district councils to play in enforcing the rules and will then assess the best way of delivering that as a matter of urgency."

A spokesman for Maidstone council added: "We are working with the police, One Maidstone and Kent County Council to regularly review the situation in Maidstone town centre and do not consider at this moment in time that there is a need for such ambassadors. This will be kept under review."

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