As the whole of East Anglia moves into Tier 4 COVID restrictions, we begin lobbying for the Government to review and extend it's support for businesses.
From 00:01 on Boxing Day, the following businesses must close:
- Non-essential retail - however they can continue to operate Click & Collect and Delivery services
- Hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, bars and pubs - however they can operate takeaway and delivery services until 11pm
- Accommodation such as hotels and guest houses
- Entertainment venues such as cinemas, museums, theatres, bingo halls, bowling alleys
- Beauty and personal care businesses such as hair dresses, barbers and tattoo parlours etc
Our BID Chair, Terry Baxter, outlines what Ipswich Central will be calling for
“The news that Ipswich is to move into Tier 4 is yet another hammer blow to the businesses of Ipswich. The business community has worked tirelessly to provide a safe and secure environment for both customers and their staff but the latest COVID variants have proved a step too far to withstand.
With this in mind, Ipswich Central is urgently calling for greater clarity for its levy payers as to how long Suffolk will be in Tier 4, what criteria will be used to release the restrictions and to ensure businesses are given suitable time to manage stock and staffing issues.
In addition, we are calling on Government to provide suitable and significant recompense for business affected:
- An extension of the freeze on business rates for a further 12 months from April 2021. This will this provide much needed confidence that those affected will have the opportunity to rebuild their businesses when this nightmare situation improves.
- Continued help for the badly affected hospitality sector by extending the reduction in VAT payable by these business beyond the 12th January 2021 deadline for a further six month period.
- And thirdly, an increase in the value of grants and compensation that better reflect the true losses being incurred by those we represent.
Government has supported individual employees by way of the furlough scheme and that is greatly appreciated by those receiving it. However, without direct and significantly improved support for the business who employ these people, once the furlough scheme ends, many of those who have been in receipt of it will not have viable jobs to go back to because those businesses will no longer be there.”
