Blackpool businesses left in a gloom as Illuminations go out for November lockdown

The four week shut down of all non-essential shops, sit-in restaurants, bars and entertainment venues has left many businesses in the town wondering if they are going to survive until next year.

Hopes that an extended Illuminations period would help keep tourists coming were dashed as efforts to prevent the spread of infection were stepped up.

The council said the lights will be switched off at midnight on Wednesday, but the Blackpool Tower, a symbol of hope for so many, will remain lit.

It added however, that subject to lockdown restrictions being eased sufficiently at the start of December, the Illuminations would be switched on again and run through Christmas and New Year to January 3.

Coun Gillian Campbell, Cabinet Member for Tourism and Culture, said: “It is hugely disappointing to have to turn off the Illuminations but given the restrictions due to come in place on Thursday there is no real alternative. The primary purpose of the national lockdown is to get infection rates down and we cannot be seen to do anything that jeopardises that objective.

“It was always our intention to extend the lights season into the New Year and if there is any way in which we can switch the lights back on during December in a safe and secure way we will endeavour to do so.”

It was the latest blow to businesses hopes for 2020 after Boris Johnson’s Saturday decree and Claire Smith from the resort’s hoteliers association, Stay Blackpool, said the announcement was not unexpected, but still a major blow for so many businesses and workers.

She said that for hoteliers things had gone wrong weeks ago as coronavirus numbers starting rising.

Bookings fell and then Scotland’s First Minister advised people not to come to Blackpool. The Tier 3 lockdown then ended hoteliers’ hopes of at least getting some money in during half term, so she said this latest lockdown was just another in a series of blows.

She said: “It is very disappointing and hard for people to keep their spirits up. But we all understand why this has happened to keep people safe.

“We were all hoping that with the extension of the Illuminations until January, we might have at least had a second bit at the apple.

“We have all lost the Easter period, then half term and now many are worried that their Christmas booking will be next.”

She said that for many hotels and B&BS each part of the holiday season was crucial to pay for certain things - for the general yearly upkeep, for staff wages between January and the start of the season, for refurbishments.

“But we have lost all that. Many will be wondering if they will make it through to next year at all.”

She said that many hoteliers will have had some Government money, from the small business grant and help form the furlough scheme. Some had taken one of the so-called bounce back loans, but she said businesses were wary of taking on more debt and thought the lockdown would be temporary so did not take enough of a loan.

“They have tried to go back to the scheme but have been told they cannot now get any more.

“It is a desperate situation but we have to keep going. At least the town getting the £39m Towns Fund money is something to look forward to in the future.”

Ryan Skyrme, operations manager for Blackpool BID, said : “Giving the latest lockdown announcement it will be a tight struggle for businesses to pull through to the end of the year, especially for Blackpool since the tourism footfall has massively decreased which has had knock on effect for businesses over the last few weeks. We just hope that the government announce suitable support packages which hopefully will assist businesses giving these very uncertain times they are facing.”

Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, said the new restrictions were set to cause extreme problems for many businesses and business owners.

She said: “These new restrictions will be a real body blow to our local business community who have done everything to adapt and operate safely.

“Many business are in a much weaker position now than at the start of the pandemic, making it far more challenging to survive extended closures and restrictions.

“Whilst the extended furlough scheme is welcome, continued help must be available to employers, to the self-employed and to the many businesses and individuals that have not been able to access any of the government’s schemes to date.”

One of those business owners who are self employed and therefore don’t qualify for as much help as others are Natasha Langthorne and Natalie Crank, who this year launched their dream hair dressing business Heir in Park Street Lytham.

Natasha said that it was a great relief that the staff would be helped by the extension of the furlough scheme.

She said it was tough for salons s to have to close once more.

She said: “As a family business, especially launching a new business in 2020 we have had to adapt where possible. We constantly look for a way to adapt to new changes and make our talents available to those who need them.

“We are trying to live in the present and focus on the future and not get bogged down with things that we can’t control.

“Being a service industry, it is difficult to adapt as you literally cant cut hair online. But there are lots of things we can do to provide support, education and service to clients and other professional hairdressers.

“We have developed a north west hairdressing Facebook group, where local hairdressers can join and offer support, clarity and help to each other.

“We have taken to commerce online via our website so customers can still buy professional hair care with free local delivery, especially with Christmas around the corner.

“We have also developed a hairdressing education membership site to offer an affordable monthly payment option for hair professionals who want to develop their skills in lockdown for just £9.99 per month the hair professionals will have access to online educational content as well as weekly live education sessions.”

Shops too are feeling the pressure, not just from the ongoing uncertainty and financial stress, but also from customers who too are clearly stressed by the coronavirus situation.

Wool and haberdashery expert Susanne Johnson from Mrs Johnson’s Emporium in Bond Street said the lockdown was necessary but it would cause real hardship for independent businesses.

She said: “It’s just a shame it wasn’t earlier so that it could be more effective and shorter, or at least over half term. Most of our customers have been fabulous, we do have more fabulous customers than other types of shops, but I have been scandalised at the behaviour of others.

“I’ve just had five weeks off, three of which were with stress because of the constant arguing with people who didn’t want to wear masks. It was as though they couldn’t argue with Boris so wanted to argue with someone.

“If we lose our already beleaguered shops, our high streets because of our own behaviour, it will be a shame.”

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