Liverpool Mayor warns hospitality sector faces collapse
Joe Anderson has joined leaders in Manchester and Leeds in writing to the government, warning their hospitality sectors are at risk of collapse.
In a letter to the Health Secretary and the Business Secretary, the leaders and chief executives of the three city councils said coronavirus restrictions in place in the regions were threatening a "huge, disproportionate'' economic impact.
In the letter, they said:
"The stark reality is that these businesses are facing the prospect of a complete decimation in trade, not just in the short term but as we look ahead to the sector's traditional lifeblood of the Christmas period and almost certainly continuing into spring/summer of next year which we know with certainty will result in mass market failure, huge levels of redundancies and depleted and boarded up high streets.''
Local restrictions in the cities mean people are advised not to mix with other households, but the council leaders have described that as"unenforceable'' as well as being "contradictory and confusing''.
They called on the ministers to make the advice law, and compensate businesses with a package of support, or allow mixing within the "rule of six'' in controlled environments.
The city leaders also called for the Government to review the 10pm curfew.
Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson said:
"We need to find a way to adjust the restrictions to ensure a balance in protecting public health and the need to protect businesses, many of which are teetering on the brink.
"Liverpool is a city which has built its revival on the leisure and hospitality sectors and it is a massive contributor not just to employment but also to business rates which fund vital local services.
"The vast majority of our businesses have responded in the right way, investing heavily in providing safe, compliant environments and a place for people to enjoy themselves safely.
"The inspections we have carried out show a very high level of compliance.
"People in restaurants are in Covid-safe environments with high levels of sanitisation and appropriate spacing.
"Forcing people to leave at 10pm runs the risk that they then go on together to a house in a large group which does not have the same measures in place.
"It is also devastating for the restaurant trade because it is depriving it of a late sitting which makes up a substantial part of its takings and is the difference between survival or going under.
"We can't have a one size fits all measure for the whole of the country, we need to be able to take account of local circumstances if we are to stand any chance of helping businesses through this intensely difficult period.''