A Devon commercial property landlord says supermarkets should either stick to selling only essential goods or independent stores should be allowed to remain open during England’s second lockdown.
Richard Peachey, of Ivybridge-based Gordano Holdings Ltd, has written to his MP, local council and district councillors to highlight inconsistencies in the Government’s approach to a retail lockdown, saying small businesses are subject to a “people’s court and draconian sanctions”.
Mr Peachey, whose business is landlord to more than 20 businesses in Ivybridge and Plymouth, said the rules need “further clarity” and has questioned whether they are fair to small businesses.
The Government has ordered that all “non-essential” retailers have to close from November 5 to December 2, but has not defined what “essential” goods and services are. It has allowed supermarkets, hardware stores, grocery stores, bicycle shops and garden centres to trade, and they can also sell “non-essential” goods and services.
Those that must shut include clothing and electrical retailers, car showrooms, travel agents, betting shops, auction houses, tailors, car washes, and tobacco and vape shops.
But independent “non-essential” stores and hospitality businesses can still remain open if providing a click-and-collect or takeaway service.
“There is so much confusion, that’s part of the problem,” Mr Peachey said. “It’s not been defined what an essential good is.”
He added: “I haven't been able to achieve any further clarity even though I have contacted the relevant authorities.
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“Big stores can operate as normal (Covid normal) but small stores have to close. We need a level playing field, we need to be allowed to compete with each other. Either make supermarkets, etc, sell only essential goods or allow us all to open.”
He said supermarkets and garden centres, for instance, can open and “sell whatever they have as long as they also sell essential goods” and added: “Small shops on the high street selling the same items such as clothes, shoes, wool, gifts, etc, cannot open But if a non-essential shop starts selling food, etc, as well, can they let customers in, as a supermarket can?
“Are small businesses so much more Covid dangerous than large supermarkets which will be even busier due to the closure of the high street?”
He said the restrictions mean the small businesses can’t plan and said he has been told by a council that if a member of the public complains about a business being open police will be instructed to take action.
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“So it appears garden centres and supermarkets can open unchallenged but small businesses on the high street are subject to a people’s court and draconian sanctions,” he said.
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He said there is also confusion about when economic help is available to small businesses, for instance if they attempt to stay open and then have to close, will they be ineligible for grant support?
Mr Peachey said that with small businesses adapting to offer deliveries and click-and-collect services, many that shut during the March to July lockdown will remain open during the second lockdown and said the message needs to be broadcast that high streets are “still open for business”.
“The high street - subject to a few businesses, like hairdressers, which have to close – will still be worth coming to. But the fear is that the public will think the high street is totally closed.
“It is not like last time, more businesses will be open than before,” he said. “Opticians are allowed to open, for example. Many businesses are looking to open, even if just for click-and-collect.”