This is how much Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde businesses received in Covid-19 grants from councils

At a Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Economic Prosperity Board meeting held yesterday (September 16), local authorities discussed how each area had responded to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Between Wyre, Blackpool and Fylde councils, over £95.5 million was paid out in Government grants to Fylde coast businesses.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced on March 11 the Government would provide a small business grant fund to deal with the financial impact of the coronavirus.

On March 17, the small business grant was increased from a one-off payment of £3,000 to £10,000.

This was followed by a separate grants fund for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, and a discretionary grants fund for businesses which were not eligible for the former two grants.

Businesses in receipt of the retail, hospitality and leisure grants received £10,000 if its rateable value was deemed to be £15,000 or less, and £25,000 for rateable values between £15,000 and £51,000.

All three grants were stopped by central Government on August 28.

Here is how many businesses received grants, and how much money each council paid out between March and August:

Blackpool Council

Blackpool Council received £59 million from the Government on April 1, the report showed.

A council spokesman said it faced the challenge of getting "money out the door as quickly as possible, recognising that many businesses were becoming increasingly desperate for support."

A total of 4,154 businesses received a grant from the council, which paid out a total of £47.17 million.

884 businesses applied for a discretionary grant, 219 of which were awarded it.

Fylde Council

A total of 1,734 businesses in Fylde received a grant.

Fylde council paid out a total of £19,111,250.

Wyre Council

2,480 businesses in Wyre were awarded a grant from the council.

It paid out a total of £28,254,000 in grants.