Blackpool businesses left unimpressed with 'wishy washy' plans to ease coronavirus lockdown

The Prime Minister has relaxed some of the coronavirus lockdown rules and said that some non-essential item shops, such as fashion and homewares may reopen if they can satisfy social distancing rules in June.

He also seemed to suggest that staff who cannot work from home should be encouraged to go back to work from tomorrow, if they can do so safely.

But there was little to bring cheer to the army of hospitality business workers and owners with his vague hints that some may be allowed to reopen if infection rates continue to fall in July.

He did say, however, that people can drive to outdoor open spaces, irrespective of distance, so long as they respect social distancing guidance while they are there, which could see many more people heading to the Fylde coast than have been over the past seven weeks.

Blackpool Council leader Simon Blackburn, inset, said: “The Government today needs to ensure that clarity is provided, and that the public understands exactly what is required of them.

“Everyone wants life in the UK to return to some semblance of normality, but we must do so in a safe way.

“Blackpool’s businesses want to start trading again as soon as it is safe to do so, but the Prime Minister’s announcement suggests that for many, that will not be until July, at the earliest.”

One of those business owners, Geoffrey Moore from the Canberra Hotel in Withnell Road, said the announcement was in danger of diluting the safety message and was confusing.

He said: “Concerning the overall message, it was very wishy washy, by no means firm or clear enough. Whilst the message ordinarily would be to welcome everybody into the town, the message should at the moment be to keep away.

“The last thing we want to happen is go forward a couple of steps and then go back four or five and have to start this whole process over again and while the death rate is getting higher and higher.

“These are very difficult circumstances for hoteliers at the moment because not only are we obviously not earning whilst incurring all the normal expenses, with the exception of food purchases, but continually we are having to return booking deposits.”

Paul Foster, from the Blackpool-headquartered North West Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Hospitality businesses are going to need support for the foreseeable future as, even when they are allowed to open, they may have to operate with reduced numbers of customers to make sure they comply with social distancing rules.

“As a result many will struggle to cover their costs and while support to cover salary costs would help to keep people on the payroll, there are other overheads such as rents and utilities bills which still need to be paid.”

The FSB’s National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “Tackling this virus and ending the threat to public health remain absolutely paramount. But it is also necessary for thought to be given to the future of work and business.

“For small employers, there should be a way of partially furloughing staff.”

He said this would help firms that can only resume business gradually.

Babs Murphy, chief executive of the North and Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce welcomed the direction of travel but added: “Companies also need to know of what government support schemes will continue so that they can plan ahead with confidence.”

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Retailers continue to await further detail from Government on the timeline for reopening shops. Safety must be the primary concern in deciding what opens when, rather than size or type of shop.”

Jay McKenna, TUC North West Acting Regional Secretary, said: “Too many people will have watched the Prime Minister’s statement and been left with more questions than answers.

“They will have asked themselves if they’re expected to go back to work but even now there are mixed messages about when they might be expected to go back and who should be returning to work.

"And if they are to go back, how will they be kept safe? How will they get there? How can they arrange childcare? What if they don’t feel like they can go back?

“It is important that the government gives more information so that we can have confidence it can work. Without this, it is a recipe for confusion and chaos.”