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Residents of the Erewash towns of Long Eaton, Ilkeston and Sandiacre worry about the potentially devastating impact that level 2 Covid-19 restrictions could have on their livelihoods
Store owners and borough owners express concern about the future of their business after government announces additional restrictions
Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the move in the House of Commons on Thursday, October 15, saying « things will get worse before they get better »
As of Saturday, October 17, residents of towns like Ilkeston, Long Eaton and Sandiacre will no longer be able to mingle indoors with people from other households or outside of their supportive bubbles
This includes indoor places such as pubs and restaurants, which left an owner worried about the future of his business
Allan Hillary, owner of the Blue Bell pub in Sandiacre, said: « I think that could be the end of the business
« We are a small pub and with the original restrictions we can only accommodate about 30 people in the pub
« Since wearing masks has become compulsory, people have stopped going out. We close at 8 p.m. or even 6 p.m.
« I have to be honest, we are seriously considering closing it down and ending our tenancy
« If we leave it any longer we’ll have to go into more debt. We’ve already had a couple of clients who have asked us if we’d be able to match them with the new restrictions – we’re going to have to look and see »
And he said he was concerned that a new national lockdown, like the one seen earlier this year, was on the way
He added that despite the impact it will have on his business, he believes the government is doing the right thing
« From a financial point of view, they should give us their support, but from a British point of view, can they afford to do more? » he said
« We have to get rid of this virus somehow It remains to be seen whether this will help or not, but they have to try something
Laura McLean, co-owner of Harpur and Finch teahouses and gift shop in Ilkeston, said she was upset to worry again about the future of her business
« Obviously we are worried – we are new business owners, we only bought the business in December, » she said
« This has been a problem, especially when Nottinghamshire was placed at level 2 because it is very close to us »
She is unhappy with what she sees as a lack of government support for businesses in Level 2 areas
« The government is not giving us any financial support, it has shot us completely in the foot, » she said
« We have a lot of elderly clients coming in and they feel safe here This might not happen if they can only see people in their support bubble
« We can’t go all the way in one direction that everyone is financially destroyed either
« Localized locks sound good to me I think doing all rounding is the right thing »
Councilor Carol Hart, head of Erewash City Council, said that while not everyone agrees, the decision to place Erewash at a ‘high’ level must be the right thing to do following a sharp increase in positive coronavirus cases
She said: « No one wants to do this, but taking this step now may mean that when the situation is reviewed in four weeks, it could have improved
« As vice chair of the engagement committee overseeing this county-level crisis, I attended a number of meetings earlier in the week and so it was obviously on the way. p>
« This will be an opportunity to sensitize the people of Erewash to the situation and urge them to follow the guidelines »
« I think when people started trying to get back to normal life, they tended to relax on certain rules such as washing their hands, covering their faces and observing social distancing, » he said. said Cllr Hart
« We need to reverse the numbers and keep them from going in an upward direction and we need to work together to protect ourselves »
« I want to assure residents that this is not a return to full lockdown and that the government is committed to ensuring that schools and colleges remain open, as well as businesses that operate in such a way. secured by Covid, « she said
« I know these restrictions are onerous, but as the winter months approach it is vital that we all remember the basics of hand washing, covering our faces, observing social distancing and follow the rules, so that together we can control the virus and protect ourselves «
Erewash
World News – GB – Erewash residents fear ‘devastating’ Level 2 restrictions