Liverpool BID boss reacts to Liverpool City Region tier 2 news

Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company and chair of LVEN (Liverpool Visitor Economy Network) has released a statement on Liverpool moving to Tier 2.

The city’s falling infection rate – now down to less than 150 per 100,000 compared with more than 700 in mid-October – has helped us to avoid the toughest measures in Tier 3.

That means when the nationwide lockdown ends, Liverpool City Region will face slightly less strict rules than when it started on November 20 as it enters tier 2.

Read Bill Addy’s statement below:

“We know the light is at the end of the tunnel in terms of vaccines and improved treatments, but there’s still a lot of travelling to go through before we get there.

This is good news for retail, for sports and for our theatres and arts venues who can open in a limited capacity, but while some breathe a sigh of relief, we cannot forget challenges remain for many, many businesses across the city.

We need the government to address the long term support needed for retail, leisure and hospitality. These need to be in place until 2022, if we want our great cities to survive this unprecedented crisis.

Liverpool BID Company

Christmas in Liverpool is like nowhere else, our famous nightlife, parties and socialising as we sing out the year and move into the next. This festive period will look very different for our night time economy.

Mostly these are independent businesses, and it is this homegrown, passionate industry that has been hit incredibly hard. Most can’t afford lobbyists, or expensive marketing teams. They work hard to give people a great night out and to bring people joy. There are historic venues, part of the fabric and fibre of our city that sadly will not reopen.

We don’t ever want to be in a situation in Liverpool where we pit industries and sectors against each other, we’re a mixed use economy and we’re a city that is a sum of its parts.

Businesses that are unable to open need help to survive so we’ll be spending the next few days talking to them to ascertain what it is they need and how we can help them open their doors once they’re able to in 2021.

Liverpool BID Company is part of the Bounce Back better campaign, calling for additional support for retail, leisure and hospitality. This includes a one off £15,000 loan for businesses in Tier 2 and Tier 3 in England and Wales, to pause National Insurance contributions for furloughed staff, extend the 100% business rates holiday for 2021 and 2022.

The VAT Reduction Scheme from 20% to 5% needs to be extended from the financial year from 2021 to 2022 to boost spending, confidence and growth.

We’d like to extend thanks to Liverpool City Council’s leadership, their Public Health team and all those who have worked so hard in tackling the spread of the virus.”

More details on Liverpool’s tier 2 restrictions can be found here.