‘We’ve been stabbed in back’ by Tier 3
Businessman says forced closure of his play centre is last straw
AVALLEY business owner said it feels “like being stabbed in the back” after a new tranche of Covid-19 regulations forced him to close his doors.
The new restrictions saw bars and pubs close last weekend.
Other businesses hit include bingo halls, bookmakers and betting shops, car boot sales, adult gaming centres (amusement arcades), and licensed social clubs. These will be closed for 28 days as part of the tier restrictions.
The closure of soft play areas has also gone ahead - despite play areas being kept open in Merseyside, which has also been hit with Tier 3 restrictions.
It comes after intensive discussions and consultation with local authorities, identifying which sectors should close in each, based on local evidence.
But one Valley owner said it could spell the end for his business.
Mohammed Sadiq, Director of Monkey PlayLand, in Haslingden, said: “It’s like being stabbed in the back. I’ve only got about another one or two more months then I’m going to have to shut down.
“Now they’ve shut us down just before holidays, our busiest time, even if we do open in a month’s time it won’t be a holiday.
“Every person we’ve had in we’ve temperature checked, everyone wears a face mask and there’s hand sanitiser all over the place. We did a lot more than needed.”
Rossendale council said they have been working hard with other Lancashire councils to seek assurances that additional restrictions are “likely to have a positive effect in bringing cases down.”
In a statement, the council said: “It is with a heavy heart that we see all of Lancashire placed into tier 3. For a number of days the Government has been expressing to us its clear intention to introduce this higher level of restrictions locally.
“We have negotiated hard to get the best deal possible in light of the Government’s intentions. Over the last few days the council has been negotiating with Government arrangements which will provide a £30m package of support to vulnerable individuals and businesses.”
The statement added: “The negotiated deal with Government has meant that a wide range of small businesses, including hairdressers and beauticians, will not be affected.
“Similarly, leisure centres and gyms will remain open.
“The council awaits details of the financial support available to businesses and wider support to vulnerable individuals.
“We will move quickly to support local communities as we have since the spring once we are clear what funding the Government is providing.”
Council leader Alyson Barnes said: “I have been negotiating with Government along the other Lancashire leaders to try and secure the best deal in these trying circumstances.
“The Government expressed its clear intention to introduce these stricter measures and we have been seeking assurance that specific businesses will be protected and those that have to close will receive funding from Government.”
AN open letter to MP Jake Berry: So now we have it. The Free Trade Deal which the Leave campaign claimed would be “easy to reach” has not materialised, and we are told to prepare for a No-Deal Brexit.
Perhaps NOW you will answer the question I’ve been asking for four years. Since we can now expect even more job losses (on top of those Covid-19 has caused), and since it is well known that jobless people are only three pay-cheques away from eviction or repossession, what measures is the government planning to take to PROTECT those people from becoming homeless?
The treasury’s response to protecting jobs during the pandemic has been superb, but can this be repeated for a crisis the country was persuaded to vote for?
Geoff Blow
Moorcroft,
Edenfield