THE Government's u-turn on rolling out vaccine passports for entry to hospitality venues has been welcomed across Darlington.

Plans for revellers to provide proof they’d been double-jabbed to gain entry to clubs and large events were lined up to start at the end of this month.  

However, after fears they would have been “unworkable”, the Health Secretary Sajid Javid said they would “not be going ahead with plans for vaccine passports” on Sunday. 

Bosses at Darlington’s Ignite nightclub revealed they were relieved passports would not be brought in. 

The Northern Echo:

A spokesperson for the club said: “If the Government thought the best way forward was to have vaccine passports, then that is what we would have done. 

“We want what is best to keep everyone safe."

But the nightclub admitted introducing the passports would have led to additional complications.

“We are relieved that passports won’t be brought in," the spokesperson added. "From a personal point of view, hopefully it means that we can still feel that life is returning to normal. 

“If passports were introduced, we would have to take steps to ensure the regulations were met, which is more complicated. 

"I’m glad that they’re not going to be introduced.

“Nightclubs have been hit badly right from the start. I can understand why it’s a little bit harder to socially distance yourself when you’re in a nightclub. 

“But when there were other areas in the hospitality sector where they weren’t socially distancing, it did feel like we were being targeted.”

The Northern Echo:

Conservative MP for Darlington Peter Gibson urged his constituents to get vaccinated.

"I welcome that vaccine passports are not for venues and events," he said.

"However, I would encourage everyone who has not had a vaccine yet to come forward to protect themselves and others so the dividend of our vaccine programme ensures we keep moving forward."

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