Lancaster businesses react to government's long-awaited roadmap out of lockdown

Several dates have been set for the loosening and complete removal of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in England, as businesses in the city prepare to resume trading, and see light at the end of a long and winding tunnel.
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Yesterday, February 22, the government set out a four step "roadmap" out of lockdown - with all retail, libraries and community centres, self contained accommodation, personal care, outdoor attractions and pub beer gardens (with restrictions on socialising) - able to re-open on April 12.

Lancaster BID said it "can't wait for April 12" when it hopes a little more normality can resume.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that schools and colleges would re-open to all year groups on March 8, and by May 17, indoor hospitality could resume, along with other accommodation such as hotels, organised indoor sport, a maximum of 30 people gathering outdoors - including private gardens - and two households indoors.

Many retailers are expected to re-open on April 12.Many retailers are expected to re-open on April 12.
Many retailers are expected to re-open on April 12.

By June 21, life would be pretty much back to normal under the plan, when even nightclubs and music festivals would be able to resume.

This would all be subject to review however - and "based on the latest data at every step".

There is much more detail about what could be allowed and when HERE.Teaching unions have expressed concern however that a "big bang" return for pupils will not bode well in terms of Covid-19 infections, and that safeguards - such as ventilation units for classrooms - have not been put in place in schools.

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Many fear that such a return will set the country back and result in a return to restrictions.

Tony Johnson, manager of Lancaster BID.Tony Johnson, manager of Lancaster BID.
Tony Johnson, manager of Lancaster BID.

However, millions of people have now been vaccinated against the disease, which in turn will reduce deaths, hospital admissions and more serious ill health.

From a business point of view, retailers in Lancaster are optimistic that the city can return "stronger and better than ever" after what will then be more than a year of uncertainty and a huge loss of trade.

Tony Johnson, manager of Lancaster BID, said: "Although some of the dates that the roadmap have given us might feel a long time away at least as a city we have time to plan.

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"I know talking to the businesses the thing that makes them worry the most is the 'not knowing'.

All restrictions could be fully lifted by June 21.All restrictions could be fully lifted by June 21.
All restrictions could be fully lifted by June 21.

"At Lancaster BID we can’t wait for April 12, when the non-essential shops can open followed five weeks later by the hospitality sector, hopefully then a little bit of normality can resume.

"As a city we know it’s going to be tough going forward but by doing it together we are confident we will come back stronger and better than ever.

"We urge the local community to 'Love Local Love Lancaster'."

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Tim Tomlinson, chair of Lancaster Pubwatch and landlord at The White Cross, Merchants, and Stonewell Tap pubs said most pubs and restaurants accepts a slightly cautious approach if it means they can remain open once they are allowed to.

Tim Tomlinson, chair of Lancaster Pubwatch.Tim Tomlinson, chair of Lancaster Pubwatch.
Tim Tomlinson, chair of Lancaster Pubwatch.

He said: "Whatever was going to be said yesterday, just having a date to aim for and for us to start moving towards some kind of normality is a blessed relief for everyone in hospitality and all the closed sectors.

"We would of course have liked to have opened earlier alongside non-essential retail.

"With all the precautions we have successfully put in place I believe properly run pubs and restaurants are no riskier than many of the busy supermarkets and shops.

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"Nonetheless we are still very grateful to have a date to work towards and get the wheels in motion to open again.

"Also on balance most of us are happy to accept a slightly cautious approach if it means we are more certain to remain open once we are allowed to.

"The worst thing that could happen for lots of pubs and restaurants would be to open too soon and then have to close down again for a couple of months.

Paul Cusimano.Paul Cusimano.
Paul Cusimano.

"That would be the death knell for many businesses.

"The April opening for outside trade only will be an interesting one with the vagaries of the British weather.

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"Planning your food purchases, preparation and staffing not knowing if in two days time it’s going to be blazing sunshine or chucking it down will be quite a challenge.

"Get it wrong and we will lose even more money than had we just stayed closed, but I am sure those of us who have the option to open will be doing so as far as is possible.

"May, all things going well, will be amazing.

"There will still be various restrictions in place, but we worked with them back in July last year, which feels like a lifetime ago, and I am sure we will be fine once again.

"We are all just looking forward to seeing all our customer back in the pubs and restaurants (still in a socially safe way at first) for the first time in far, far too long."

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Highest Point Festival, which was scheduled to take place in May at Williamson Park, has said it is looking at putting on an event later in the year - with further details due in the next few weeks - and it is also understood Lancaster Music Festival is intending to go ahead in October, albeit without the international music element.

There will be many event organisers now debating how and when they may be able to go ahead safely this year.

Paul Cusimano, owner of clothing retailer Joseph and Co in Lancaster, said: "It is great to have a date to aim towards.

"One could be forgiven for thinking that you can just re-open without much notice.

"Different businesses need varying amounts of lead time.

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"The uncertainty and not knowing 'when' has been the most difficult aspect of it in business terms.

"On a personal level, that's a different story.

"I just hope that the numbers keep dropping, the vaccination program stays on course and everyone can get through this, on every level."

Liam Shannon, who set up Chapel Street Wines with his business partner Adam Ventris in March 2020 - just before the first lockdown - said that despite the "unusual year" their business had been a success.

He said: "Clearly it's been an unusual year!

"Shops have suffered greatly, and many of our retail friends and neighbours have found life a real struggle.

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"With neither of us having any retail experience - plenty of wine experience - just not selling it! - it could have ended badly for us, but partly through good fortune, people drinking at home, and partly through a bit of hard work and creative thinking, which have included Zoom customer tastings with winemakers across the world, our first year in business has been a successful one."

He also said the social media page Totally Local Lancaster - set up by and for businesses to support eachother during lockdown - had provided a huge amount of support.

Members of the group have expressed optimism about the roadmap, and the overarching message has been to shop locally as much as possible and invest in the city's independent retail sector.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "We cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that have separated families and loved ones for too long, and threatened the livelihoods of millions, and kept pupils out of school.

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"It is thanks to the roll-out of the vaccinations, some of them pioneered in this country, that the balance of that judgement is now changing in our favour.

"And it is thanks to the vaccinations that there is light ahead leading us to a spring and summer which I think will be seasons of hope, looking and feeling incomparably better for us all and from which we will not go back."

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