‘We are already struggling’

SHOPPERS and businesses are unsure about a two-week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown being discussed for the end of the month.

With Northern Ireland announcing a four-week lockdown to try to combat the incredibly high case rates there, Downing Street sources have suggested that something similar for England is not off the table.

This would mean most businesses would have to close, including non-essential shops, restaurants, and pubs, and might be put in place if the new three-tier traffic light system does not reduce the spread of the coronavirus. The current time being discussed for the lpotential lockdown is the end of October in time for the half-term holidays. WThis would be to cause as little disruption to schools as possible, with many children having already missed months of term time due to the first lockdown. However, local business owners are still very cautious about the impact such a lockdown may have, after already going without trade for several months this year.

Linda Vasey, owner of clothing store, Paris, on Abbeygate in Grimsby, said: “A lockdown is something we would not want. It’s been a tough time for local businesses and it would really affect us. But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done. I just hope they consider independent businesses before going ahead with anything.” Tina Sanders, owner of Proposals Bridal Room on Abbeygate, said: “If we were supported through it again, then I’d agree with it. But we are already struggling now because of the impact of Covid-19.

“We have no weddings really, at the moment, and people just don’t know what the future holds.

“Our main problem is that people don’t want to plan a wedding for two years just to have 15 people there for it. If they shut us down and paid our staff’s wages again then it would be fine, but we can’t cope with no income on top of losing three to four months of trade. Even with people buying dresses in advance - which, thankfully, some people are - our sales are still down for this time of year.

“I want people to be positive and order for next year and the year after, but at the end of the day, we don’t know what will happen yet.”

Richard Rockette, owner of Vittles & Company on Brighowgate, Grimsby, said: “It’s worrying because it doesn’t allow you to plan.

“Ideally you’d have an unencumbered run to Christmas, which is one of the busiest times for us, usually. If they gave us plenty of notice, it would make a big difference. But seeing it’s being discussed for half-term, it’s not giving us much notice at all.

“We’d normally pick up mid-November, so if they did get a two week lockdown out of the way for half-term, it would probably benefit us more. If we did have a circuit breaker it would be better to have it sooner, rather than in the middle of November or December.”

Shoppers on Victoria Street were also mixed about the possibility of a lockdown.

One person said: “I’d be disappointed if they do put us into any further lockdowns after all of this, But then again, it might be just what we need and do a lot of good, health-wise. I just wish they’d make their minds up about it instead of always changing it.”

Another shopper said: “Yeah, I’d be very supportive of it, definitely. I think it would make a big difference to the rising case rate.”

One woman said: “I think there are too many young people going out and not wearing masks and social distancing. I think this lockdown is exactly what needs to be done right now.

“Some people do follow the rules, of course, but shutting everything for two weeks would make a lot of difference.”