MP: time for tourists to return to town
SOUTHPORT’S MP says he hopes to see holiday makers come to the town upon the reopening of businesses including bars, hotels and restaurants as of this weekend.
A dramatic easing of lockdown restrictions will also see leisure attractions, hairdressers and cinemas able to reopen as well as the two metre social distancing requirement being reduced to a socalled ‘one metre plus’.
Up to 490 businesses across the town will benefit from the changes according to the Government and MP Damien Moore gave his support to Government’s announcements.
He said: “From a Southport point of view we will start to see people who will want to have a break and enjoy some time off and potentially a holiday, and I hope they will come and do that in Southport.
“Our businesses will be able to facilitate that, which will be good.
“I understand people will have lots of questions and I am in the process of speaking with ministers to seek further guidance on different aspects of how businesses can open safely.”
The Conservative MP says he will be speaking to ministers about the ability for restaurants, cafes and bars to expand and set out tables outside their venues. He wants businesses to be able to do this quickly easily without delays through applying for lengthy planning regulations.
Mr Moore said: “As long as this can be done in a sensible way, then businesses should be able to trade outdoors in a way that would enhance safety for their customers while also making them more viable.
“Southport has some great assets in this regard. Wide open streets such as Lord Street are perfect for allowing restaurants, cafes and bars to trade with the capacity they need with social distancing factored in to keep themselves open.
“The difference between trading at 40% capacity and 60% capacity could be the difference between them staying open or having to close.”
Some businesses, such as nail bars, dentists, tattoo parlours and others, have not been included in the list that will be able to open on Saturday but the Government says work is continuing to help them to welcome back their customers as soon as possible.
Mr Moore said: “It is the right decision at this time not to open some businesses.
“I will be encouraging the Government to take further steps to open more venues when they can ensure that the necessary safety measures are in place. It is all about risk management. This is an airborne disease which can spread very easily when people get too close to one another.
“Personally, I am desperate for gyms to reopen! There are lots of things that we will all want to do.
“But we have made significant progress today. There are lots of positives for us to take.
“Hopefully we are moving in the right direction.”
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