Chamber calls for local resources to keep North East businesses open
Date published:
North East England Chamber of Commerce has demanded the immediate provision of funding and resources to help local authorities in the North East get on top of Covid outbreaks and to prevent a costly escalation to Tier 3 rules.
In a letter to Ministers Chamber chief executive James Ramsbotham said: “While we acknowledge the recent changes to business support schemes, no amount of funding can fully prevent the harm that would be caused by mandatory closures under Tier 3. With case numbers appearing to stabilise, we have a moment of opportunity to get this crisis under control.
He stressed the need for immediate support and resources to tackle local outbreaks and prevent escalation of the pandemic.
He said: “Local authorities in our region have worked tirelessly to tackle Covid and demonstrated huge initiative in engaging Government early to discuss public health restrictions. We have also worked closely with them to provide reassurance and guidance to our businesses. For their part, businesses have done everything possible to make their environments safe for both staff and customers, often at huge expense.”
James Ramsbotham was clear in his letter the solution for tackling Covid-19 was more regional autonomy.
He said: Time and again during this crisis it has been shown that blanket national policies are no substitute for local knowledge and control. Test and Trace is failing to deliver at a local level and it is ludicrous that further support to control outbreaks and establish local contact tracing is tied to a move into Tier 3.
“We therefore ask that you engage immediately with political and business leaders across the North East and provide all the resources required to address local outbreaks, vastly improve test and trace provision and prevent business closures.”
Full copy of the letter available here.