Call to extend Eat Out scheme
COUNCILLOR SAYS EXTENSION WOULD BENEFIT AREAS WITH RESTRICTIONS
THE Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme should be extended throughout September in northern areas that are experiencing local lockdowns to prevent the region suffering disproportionately.
The suggestion has been made by Andrew Cooper, a leading member of the Green Party and the leader of the Green group on Kirklees Council.
He is calling for cross-party local support and has pledged to urge other local authorities across the north to back the move.
The Government launched the scheme on August 3 in a bid to encourage the public to support the hospitality sector by dining at local restaurants.
It offers 50% off meals and soft drinks up to the value of £10 per person during August on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Clr Cooper, who represents Newsome ward on Kirklees Council, said the scheme was conceived to provide a stimulus to the hard-hit hospitality sector.
He commented: “Restaurants and pubs have suffered hugely during the lockdown restrictions and have had a slow start as restrictions were lifted.
“With restrictions now being reintroduced in Kirklees, Calderdale, Bradford, Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire this has been a blow to many of these businesses.
“People who are holidaying at home, work colleagues and friends can now no longer meet in local eateries so the positive effect of the subsidised discounts for restaurants, cafes and pubs is significantly diminished.”
He added: “Areas subject to these additional restrictions should now have the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme extended.
“It would be unfair for these
Northern areas to suffer disproportionately due to Government restrictions and so a call for an extension through the whole of September is a perfectly reasonable ask of Government.”