Borough’s pubs join forces to ask for help from government
PUB AND restaurant owners in Calderdale joined forces to request additional support to help save the borough’s hospitality industry.
More than 20 Calderdale bar and hospitality businesses have backed the call from Michael Ainsworth, from the Grayston Unity, Halifax.
In a letter to Calderdale Council’s chief executive Robin Tuddenham, he has urged Mr Tuddenham to use the discretion that is to be granted to councils with regards to the government’s Top Up Business Grant Scheme and make hospitality related businesses in Calderdale a priority for additional
The industry needs more government help if there’s to be an industry left
help.
But Mr Ainsworth has since been told by the council that the small print precludes the government funding being directed towards the local hospitality trade.
“This intensifies the need to try and get specific government help for the sector,” he told the Courier.
“From talking to local hospitality businesses I think there’s a concern that the government has been saying pubs will be able to re-open in July.
”For me and everyone else who put their name to that letter, it shows a bit of a lack of understanding of the industry.
”None of us think it can work trying to operate a cafe, a bar or a restaurant with social distancing at two metres. It’s just not feasible.
“I understand lots of industries could say they’re in need, but we were the first to go into lockdown and we’re going to be the last to come out.
“A key element to getting people spending money again is for them to come out and spend in a restaurant, a cafe, a bar or a live music venue.
“If we don’t have some kind of additional help, we’re not going to be here.
“The industry needs more government help if there’s to be an industry left.”
Paul Mansley, from
Sowerby
Bridge’s Puzzle Hall Inn, one of the businesses backing the letter, said: “We are losing pubs and clubs at a remarkable rate the impact of this upon social care and the mental health services will be profound at this time in particular.
“It is therefore both essential and good economic sense to support the hospitality industry through the lockdown and its adaptation to the requirements of life thereafter.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK Should more be done to help our pubs and bars?
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