North East firms will want certainty and signs that the Government has learned from previous lockdowns when it announces the route of the coronavirus restrictions, business groups say.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will announce the 'roadmap' for lifting the current lockdown this afternoon, with schools expected to re-open on March 8 ahead of a more gradual lifting of other restrictions.
The relaxation comes amid a backdrop of promising data suggesting coronavirus infections are dropping across the UK.
A number of surveys have pointed to huge problems in the North East economy as a result of the latest national lockdown but there are still fears that infection levels are high in some areas and re-opening society too quickly could see illness rates rise for a third time.
The CBI has previously called for a re-opening plan that is “detailed, practical and instils confidence” while the North East England Chamber of Commerce has called for continuing help for businesses affected by lockdowns and an extension of the furlough scheme.
Adrian Waddell, chief executive of Newcastle city centre business improvement district NE1, said: “Although we can’t predict what the Prime Minister will say on Monday and how he is going to outline the roadmap out of lockdown, we need there to be no cliff edges in terms of support for business.
“The PM needs to provide assurances that financial support will be available for as long as businesses are prohibited from opening and trading freely. Furthermore when they reopen businesses will be trading in a weakened position and will need to be able to restore cash reserves and pay down debt.
“They will require ongoing support such as an extension to the business rates holiday, the 5% VAT rate for restaurants and, beyond that, reform to the business rates system. We need to create a more even playing field for bricks and mortar high street operators compared with online retail business operating from out-of-town warehouses.
“When businesses do reopen, we hope the Government will have learned lessons from the previous lockdowns and will remove as many restrictions as possible, allowing businesses to trade freely without limitations, no curfews and as simply as possible.
“We are not expecting all restrictions to be lifted immediately but we hope that we will be given a clear timeframe for a gradual, phased reopening which will allow businesses to plan for their return and for this lockdown to be the last.”
Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said this morning that the focus of easing lockdown restrictions would be “steady as she goes” as he said there would be an easing of restrictions on outdoor socialising.
He also indicated that a return to the tiering system where different areas of the country had varied restrictions was unlikely to return.
