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What Boris Johnson's lockdown routemap will mean for pubs, shops and businesses in the South West

The Prime Minister is expected to give some clarity to what happens in the months ahead

The view of a busy beach in St Ives on August 1(Image: Cornwall Live)

There has been a lot of speculation about how the lockdown in England will end.

Economic leaders across the South West are hoping for some certainty so that they can start planning ahead for the summer season, at least.

We don't know for certain if a tier system will return, though reports suggest this is unlikely. In all events, we don't expect to see the end of the face mask, social distancing and hand sanitiser any time soon.

Based on what we know so far, here are the main announcements the region will be listening out for and what they want to see happen.

The High Street

The region's High Streets have been mothballed like all others across the º£½ÇÊÓÆµ and shopkeepers will want to know when they can expect to re-open again.

It has been suggested that after schools return, which is due to begin on March 8, non-essential retail will be next on the list in the gradual phased opening up of society. Latest reports suggest that may not happen until late April.

The South West has been identified as having 6 out of 20 areas most at risk of a hollowed out High Street. Torbay, Devon, Cornwall, Bath and North Somerset have a seasonal economy and will be first to suffer if restrictions continue, according to .

According to early speculation on the routemap, non-essential retail is likely to re-open in April, with open-air markets more likely to open first.