New Year, New Lockdown …….Same Old Councillor Here to Help!

Posted on: 5th January 2021

As with the first Lockdown, I will share any information I received that could be of interest. Each Wednesday at 1:30 p.m, I will get a briefing and get the opportunity to ask questions so, if you need me to ask any questions, get them to me by then. Remember you can ask your own questions through the Council COVID email (see below).

It is anticipated that Stay at Home and Business Closures will become law as of tomorrow (Wed 6 Jan) but ahead of that, this is a summary of which Businesses and Community Venues can or cannot open, under what restrictions, according to the Guidance issued. When I get news of grants and other financial help available, I’ll pass it on but would recommend business link up with the various Business Networks in Cornwall or the Tin Coast Partnership if your business is linked to/ benefits from Tourism and is based from Morvah to Sennen.

Businesses and venues which must close as part of the national lockdown are:

·         non-essential retail, such as clothing and homeware stores, vehicle showrooms (other than for rental), betting shops, tailors, tobacco and vape shops, electronic goods and mobile phone shops, auction houses (except for auctions of livestock or agricultural equipment) and market stalls selling non-essential goods. These venues can continue to be able to operate click-and-collect (where goods are pre-ordered and collected off the premises) and delivery services.

·         hospitality venues such as cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars and social clubs; with the exception of providing food and non-alcoholic drinks for takeaway (until 11pm), click-and-collect and drive-through. All food and drink (including alcohol) can continue to be provided by delivery.

·         accommodation such as hotels, hostels, guest houses and campsites, except for specific circumstances, such as where these act as someone’s main residence, where the person cannot return home, for providing accommodation or support to the homeless, or where it is essential to stay there for work purposes

·         leisure and sports facilities such as leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, sports courts, fitness and dance studios, riding arenas at riding centres, climbing walls, and golf courses.

·         entertainment venues such as theatres, concert halls, cinemas, museums and galleries, casinos, amusement arcades, bingo halls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, go-karting venues, indoor play and soft play centres and areas (including inflatable parks and trampolining centres), circuses, fairgrounds, funfairs, water parks and theme parks

·         animal attractions (such as zoos, safari parks, aquariums, and wildlife reserves)

·         indoor attractions at venues such as botanical gardens, heritage homes and landmarks must also close, though outdoor grounds of these premises can stay open for outdoor exercise.

·         personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons. Tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close. These services should not be provided in other people’s homes

·         community centres and halls must close except for a limited number of exempt activities, as set out below. Libraries can also remain open to provide access to IT and digital services – for example for people who do not have it at home – and for click-and-collect services

Some of the above businesses and places will also be permitted to be open for a small number of exempt activities. A full list of exemptions can be found in the guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England, but includes:​

·         education and training – for schools to use sports, leisure and community facilities where that is part of their normal provision

·         childcare purposes and supervised activities for those children eligible to attend

·         hosting blood donation sessions and food banks

·         to provide medical treatment

·         for elite sports persons to train and compete (in indoor and outdoor sports facilities), and professional dancers and choreographers to work (in fitness and dance studios)

·         for training and rehearsal without an audience (in theatres and concert halls) for the purposes of film and TV filming

BUSINESSES AND VENUES WHICH CAN REMAIN OPEN

Other businesses and venues are permitted to stay open, following COVID-19 secure guidelines. Businesses providing essential goods and services can stay open. The full list of these businesses can be found in the guidance on closing certain businesses and venues in England, but includes:

·         essential retail such as food shops, supermarkets, pharmacies, garden centres, building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences (Note that many local shops will change the way they operate to keep you safe. You may have to ring orders through, only one member of the household might be allowed in, they may severely restrict the numbers of people able to enter the shops so, be prepared to queue.)

·         market stalls selling essential retail may also stay open

·         businesses providing repair services may also stay open, where they primarily offer repair services

·         petrol stations, automatic (but not manual) car washes, vehicle repair and MOT services, bicycle shops, and taxi and vehicle hire businesses

·         banks, building societies, post offices, short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses

·         funeral directors

·         laundrettes and dry cleaners

·         medical and dental services

·         vets and retailers of products and food for the upkeep and welfare of animals

·         animal rescue centres, boarding facilities and animal groomers (may continue to be used for animal welfare, rather than aesthetic purposes)

·         agricultural supplies shops

·         mobility and disability support shops

·         storage and distribution facilities

·         car parks, public toilets and motorway service areas

·         outdoor playgrounds

·         outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise

·         places of worship

·         crematoriums and burial grounds