Businesses across the South hit by delay to lockdown lifting
Dozens will have to remain closed for four more weeks
Concerns have been raised as 180 Southampton businesses are reportedly set to be affected by the delay in easing lockdown restrictions.
The lifting of the final stage of lockdown has been pushed back to July 19th.
This means that social distancing will have to remain in place, nightclubs have to remain closed and venues will have to operate with capacity limits.
The move follows concerns over the Delta variant of Covid-19 and an increase in cases.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to speed up the vaccination programme and said to be “confident” to be able to ease restrictions next month.
But business leaders across Hampshire have raised concerns and called for financial support for local business.
Giles Semper, the executive director at Go!Southampton, the Business Improvement District (BID), said:
“Sadly this decision severely affects no fewer than 30% of our members – some 180 businesses in the hospitality and cultural sectors, particularly nightclubs which still haven’t been able to open at all.
"It is a fiction to believe that these businesses have been able to trade at an adequate level since 17th May. The restrictions on capacity and the extra management responsibilities have compromised them severely, and they now face a further four weeks of it.”
He added:
“If we accept the public health arguments for delaying full reopening, we hope that the government will consider both retaining existing financial support for the affected businesses and also offering new protections. Otherwise the collapse of many of these businesses looks a certainty.”
Ross McNally, executive chairman of the Hampshire Chamber of Commerce added:
“The impact on commercial activity from this further delay must be mitigated by commensurate government support measures so businesses do not lose out again while we await the full unlocking of the economy.”
Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said that given the rise in cases the delay ” is now necessary”.
He added:
“However, this wasn’t inevitable and largely down to the government’s failure to get a grip on travel restrictions when they could have made a difference to stop this variant in its tracks.
"I am very worried about businesses in the city who will now have to struggle through another month of restrictions and the government need to offer them more support to ensure they survive until July.”
Cllr Dan Fitzhenry, leader of Southampton City Council, said the authority is working with the government as well as looking at council’s resources to see how businesses can be supported.
He added:
“We hope to give them an answer as quickly as possible this week to give them much certainty and help them stay afloat.”
Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said business rate holiday and the VAT holiday for hospitality would continue.
He said councils would also have further discretionary grants.
He added:
“I understand the frustrations of businesses who have made plans and been looking forward to unlocking but we must be vaccinating more quickly than the spread to ensure when we do lift restrictions it’s irreversible.”