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Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester face mass layoffs and “bricked streets” amid a collapse in the hotel sector unless coronavirus restrictions are revised, city leaders have warned the government.
A letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Business Secretary Alok Sharma from the leaders and CEOs of the three city councils said that the restrictions in place in the regions threatened a “huge and disproportionate” economic impact.
They said hotel occupancy was down 30% and influx down as much as 70%.
In the letter, they said: “The stark reality is that these companies face the prospect of total annihilation in trade, not just in the short term, but as we look to the traditional lifeblood of the Christmas period and almost certainly continuing into the spring / summer of next year that we know for sure will result in mass market failures, huge levels of layoffs, and bricked-up and sold-out main streets. “
They said coronavirus the guidance in cities advising people not to mix with other homes was “unenforceable” as well as “contradictory and confusing.”
And they urged ministers to make the advisory law and compensate companies with a support package, or allow them to blend into the “rule of six” in controlled settings.
A law was announced on Monday prohibiting the mixing of homes in public spaces, including pubs and restaurants, for parts of the northeast of England, but it remains advice rather than law for other areas in the north.
City leaders also called on the government to review the 10 p.m. curfew and discuss concerns with local authorities and businesses in advance.
Leaders want the government to review the 10 p.m. curfew
Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said: “We need to find a way to adjust the restrictions to ensure a balance in protecting public health and the need to protect businesses, many of which are on the brink.”
“Liverpool is a city that has built its renaissance in the leisure and hospitality sectors and is a massive contributor not only to employment but also to business rates that fund vital local services.
“The vast majority of our companies have responded in the right way, investing heavily in providing safe and compatible environments and a place for people to have fun safely.
“The inspections we have carried out show a very high level of compliance.
“The restaurant people are in COVID-19-safe environments with high levels of sanitation and adequate spacing.
“Forcing people to go out at 10 pm runs the risk that they will later go together to a house in a large group that does not have the same measurements.
