Business leaders in Bristol are appealing to the government for emergency support amid 鈥渉uge losses of revenue鈥 caused by the new Omicron Covid variant.
In a letter to Chancellor Rishi Sunak, organisations from across the city's leisure, culture, retail, hospitality and tourism sectors warned of the 鈥渃rippling impact鈥 of the virus on business and said "strong local businesses" were already collapsing.
The letter said the latest government advice to the public - and the resulting precautions from residents, commuters and visitors - was 鈥渄isproportionately鈥 affecting firms.
It also said city centres were being particularly impacted, following the government鈥檚 call for people to work from home where they can.
The letter was signed by Keith Rundle, Director of BIDs; Vicky Lee, head of City Centre BID; Carly Heath, Bristol Nights; Kathryn Davies, director of Tourism at Visit Bristol; Matt Griffith, director of policy at Business West; Brendan Murphy, co-founder of the British Association of Restaurants, Bars and Independents; and Aine Morris, executive director of Bristol Food Union.
The letter noted a 鈥渄ramatic surge鈥 in the cancellation of 鈥減reviously healthy鈥 Christmas bookings, but also warned of:
- staff shortages due to rising case rates and self-isolation to protect others;
- loss of temporary and seasonal jobs undermining the recovery of the reputation of the sector as a safe and stable industry;
- suppliers to the sector having cancelled orders and residual short shelf life seasonal stock;
- significant reductions in bookings for businesses into January and February 2022.
鈥淭here are clear reductions in footfall across our city centre as people take appropriate precautions to keep themselves safe,鈥 the letter stated.
鈥淕overnment and public health advice and guidance is making the hospitality and retail sectors increasingly financially unstable with 海角视频 Hospitality already forecasting that turnover will reduce by 40% in the crucial month of December.
鈥淭his number is reinforced by the cancellation levels that businesses here in Bristol are already experiencing.鈥
The letter pointed to the 鈥減ositive鈥 measure previously put in place by the government to support businesses - and called for 鈥渟imilar decisive and supportive action鈥, including:
- Business rate relief at 100% for all the affected sectors until March 2022;
- Extending the reduced level of VAT for tourism, leisure and hospitality sector beyond March 2022;
- Allocating extra funds for local authorities to enable the provision of support grants to businesses being affected by the changes in guidance;
- Financial support, including sector specific furlough, for those employed and self employed who are affected by the current Omicron situation;
- A clear commitment to adapt support to reflect the impacts that businesses are suffering as the population is being kept safe;
- Clear and consistent articulation of the rationale behind any further restrictions or guidance that might become necessary;
- Urgently address the limitations of the Live Events Reinsurance Scheme to support venues experiencing damaging levels of cancellations.
It added: "We鈥檙e already seeing strong local businesses collapsing. Time is of the essence for the government to act and save this prized sector."
The letter comes as a new poll suggests most small and medium sized business owners expect the government to introduce more stringent coronavirus restrictions before the end of this month.
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