Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Town should be full ...but now it’s dead’
VIEW FROM BLACKPOOL
WITH its famous lights bringing life to the pier, pleasure beach, bars and arcades, Blackpool has always been a place where summer fun carries on into the dark nights of winter.
But now a sense of dread and despair hangs over the seaside town.
Right in the middle of Illuminations season, which attracts around four million visitors a year, businesses have been plunged into the darkness of a Tier 3 lockdown.
Since the restrictions came in on Saturday, the resort has been silent and shuttered, leaving many fearful of ruin.
“We were kind of bullied into this, we reluctantly agreed,” said Blackpool Council leader Lynn Williams.
She added the Government has pledged £30million to support businesses, with Blackpool hoping for £5million.
Locals who rely on tourism fear they may be about to lose everything.
Ann Rowley, manager of the Beach Hotel on Blackpool’s Promenade, said guests have already cancelled half-term bookings.
She said: “It should be chockablock but it’s not – it’s dead. We’ve had a lot cancel. They’re frightened of coming.
“I mean we’ve just had such a bad season and for it to happen again well, we would be struggling.”
Hotelier Gill Norris will get no financial help because she has not been forced to close.
She fears that the new restrictions will have “a devastating impact” on the local economy. “We had the Government’s help at the beginning of the first lockdown,” she said. “But that doesn’t pay the bills for the rest of the year.”
Claire Smith, president of hoteliers group Stayblackpool, said the announcement at short notice had “caused chaos” and confusion.
She said: “We’ve been taking calls from hoteliers who have questions about whether the attractions will stay open – all the things visitors come for.
“We should have been given some breathing space to plan.”
Kelly Hales, 49, from Corby, Northants, and Gina Clements, 58, from Ayrshire, found themselves caught in the confusion after booking a girls’ short getaway in the town.
Kelly said: “We only found out about the restrictions when we were on our way here. This is sh**e.”
Gina added: “We would have been out drinking and enjoying ourselves all weekend but it has been spoilt.”
We’ve had such a bad season and for it to happen again... we would be struggling HOTEL BOSS ANN ROWLEY ON THE IMPACT OF TIER 3 LOCKDOWN MEASURES