Cornwall Chamber of Commerce calls for clarity following second lockdown announcement
Chief Executive, Kim Conchie says it must be playing "merry hell" on people's livelihoods.
The chief executive of Cornwall Chamber of Commerce says he’s ‘absolutely devastated’ following the announcement from the Prime Minister that the UK will be put into a second lockdown.
Kim Conchie said that the British chambers have been lobbying to the Government for some weeks to implement a five-point plan which would clear it for businesses as to exactly what was going on.
However, on Saturday 31 October, Boris Johnson, alongside Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Whitty and Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance addressed the nation at a Downing Street Press Conference with the news that he will be enforcing a second lockdown.
Following a data presentation by Prof. Whitty and Sir Patrick, the Prime Minister said:
“Even in the South West, where incidence was so low, and still is so low, it is now clear that current projections mean they will run out of hospital capacity in a matter of weeks unless we act.”
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister
Kim said by making the announcement within a few hours of the furlough scheme ending and for the information surrounding it to still be so unclear, he says, makes the situation very difficult for small businesses in Cornwall.
“We have such a track record in Cornwall of entrepreneurship and innovation many, many people work for and own small businesses in Cornwall. They must be absolutely devastated because of the uncertainty.”
Kim Conchie, Chief Executive, Cornwall Chamber of Commerce
There are many points about the new lockdown that the Chamber of Commerce are looking to find clarity on:
“What we're looking for is a plan to explain which sectors precisely can work and which can’t, an explanation as to when these schemes will finish, how long the furlough extension will run for and whether things like a further extension apply to businesses who haven’t furloughed before or whether this is just applicable to those who have. Is it going to stay at the current rate or is it at the previous rate when the Government paid 80 per cent of people’s wages?”
Kim Conchie, Chief Executive
With many businesses in the Duchy also facing uncertainty of Brexit and still may be unsure about what the implications are going to be, Kim Conchie says it must be playing “merry hell” with people’s livelihoods:
“I just think many small businesses will be feeling as to whether they've got the energy and the ability to continue the fight for survival under these circumstances.
"It’s very difficult to ascertain and I know that there are several small businesses thinking ‘I'll just throw the keys back to the landlord or the bank because it's just too difficult under these uncertain circumstances to carry on.”
Kim Conchie
Lockdown has not been all doom and gloom here for a number of sectors in Cornwall says Kim, in fact there are businesses that are thriving, including those who have been able to adapt their business model into home delivery and takeaway services and for those working in manufacturing:
“Those working in the food and home improvements fields are doing very well. Some manufacturing businesses that supply and service the home improvements and residential property markets are doing pretty well.
“As we look forward, some of these changes which the Covid crisis is accelerating will suit Cornwall better in the future.
"We’ll have a more ready acceptance of renewable energy, of lithium mining, of sustainable agricultural practices and the interest in provenance and traceability and small batch production, which are now beginning to command a premium, will benefit Cornwall in the long term.”
Kim Conchie
However, the chamber says it’s very aware that the news does not bring much joy to those with long term hopes, especially those who are fearful about their businesses and jobs over the coming weeks.
It says it hopes to get some clearer statistics and information from Government as soon as possible.