'Nothing we say makes a difference' Businesses react to Tier 4 announcement as borough faces tighter restrictions

Non-essential retailers, hairdressers and leisure facilities are just some of the businesses that will be forced to close their doors again in Lancashire from tomorrow, December 31.
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A stay at home order will be issued across the county from tomorrow as Lancashire will enter Tier 4 - the tightest of Covid-19 restrictions.

And people can only go to work when it cannot be done from home and leave their homes for education, essential shopping, medical reasons and other limited purposes.

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The announcement this afternoon also brought the news that all non-essential retailers will be forced to close until further notice, despite already trading through a somewhat turbulent festive period.

The Transform Hub at Fulwood is a fitness centre which will now be forced to close its doors under the county's new restrictions.

Director James Calderbank said: "It is becoming such an inconvenience now and we don't know what is going on. Unfortunately, we have sort of learnt to expect it now and just have to reopen whenever we are allowed to do so.

"I don't think the government know what to do and feel that us business owners are getting desensitised to it now so we have no choice but to just close and wait.

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"The annoying thing is, I know gyms are some of the cleanest places you can be and I feel like we should be open. The proof is already out there that we have low levels of transmissions and we have shouted about it enough but nothing we say makes a difference."

James Calderbank, Director of The Transform Hub at Fulwood will now be forced to close again under the county's new restrictionsJames Calderbank, Director of The Transform Hub at Fulwood will now be forced to close again under the county's new restrictions
James Calderbank, Director of The Transform Hub at Fulwood will now be forced to close again under the county's new restrictions

And for Danielle Joyce, owner of Infinity Fitness, Longridge, any hopes of reopening and hosting exercise classes again have been shattered.

According to the tier restrictions, she has been unable to open host any indoor exercise classes since November, as even Tier 2 rules prevent her from running classes with people who don't live together.

She said: "We haven't been able to open for the past two months because we are affected by pretty much every tier. Tier 3 states that exercise classes couldn't go ahead and even in Tier 2, you have to attend in your support bubbles only.

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"There is just no logic behind these rules and none of it makes any sense. I can sit and get my hair, lashes and nails done in close distance of the person doing it, but I can't visit a safe studio where everybody socially distances and only touches sanitised equipment.

Danielle and her classes at Infinity Fitness have 'no hope' of reopeningDanielle and her classes at Infinity Fitness have 'no hope' of reopening
Danielle and her classes at Infinity Fitness have 'no hope' of reopening

"We had little hope that we would be able to reopen again and now, going into Tier 4, it seems even less likely. We have no hope."

Non-essential retailers were allowed to remain open under Tier 3 restrictions across the country, meaning high street retailers had a fighting chance at surviving throughout the festive period.

But the announcement for Lancashire follows the news that a spread of the new strain of COVID-19 is increasing in the South West, Midlands and parts of the North West.

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This means that as well as hairdressers, barbers, and indoor fitness and sports facilities, non-essential retailers must close once more.

Preston's Hollywood Exports store will have to close again, leaving owners Matthew and Kay out of pocketPreston's Hollywood Exports store will have to close again, leaving owners Matthew and Kay out of pocket
Preston's Hollywood Exports store will have to close again, leaving owners Matthew and Kay out of pocket

For Matthew Taylor and Kay Pickles, owners of Hollywood Exports - a vintage clothing store on Fox Street in Preston, it means they will have to rely on their online sales again to "keep their head above water."

Matthew said: "I have stock coming in from America tomorrow which I need to pick up, meaning I will be £10,000 out of pocket and won't even have a shop to sell it in.

"With the way the numbers are going, I see the reason for the government doing something, but it is clear these tiers are not making much of a difference because we have already been here before.

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"Essential shops can stay open but you can't socially distance in a busy supermarket. We are a small shop that sells close and have a maximum capacity of eight people, so it is very safe and we are not to blame for this.

"In the first lockdown we had support grants of £10,000 for being shut and now my rent is due for the shop and I might not have the money to pay it. We will have to keep using our online sales now to try and keep our head above water, but this announcement is very last minute and we need more than one days notice."

Tier 3 and 4 areas will continue to be prioritised for community testing, with more than 100 local authorities now having signed up to the enhanced testing support programme.

People in Lancashire must not leave their home or garden unless they have a ‘reasonable excuse’ including where reasonably necessary for work, education, exercise or open air recreation and essential activities such as medical appointments and to buy food.