THIRD lockdown is a point of much concern for business owners in Barrow who yet again have to shut up shop if they are not deemed ‘essential’.

Around 600,000 retail, hospitality, and leisure sites will be able to claim a one-off grant of up to £9,000, the Government has announced.

The programme of grants will cost the Treasury £4.6 billion and is aimed to help support the high street as new lockdown measures announced on Monday take hold.

Lisa Clark, co-owner at Smiler’s Cafe on Dalton Road, said: “We are more prepared this time than we were with the first one.

“We expected another lockdown and we are glad it (coronavirus) has been taken seriously with a per lockdown.

“I am not sure how some businesses are going to come back from this.

“I think the future is very uncertain as we thought we would have reopened by now.

“We will remain open for deliveries. For us, we are very lucky with the following and support we have had.”

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The cafe team are currently in the process of changing the menu to make it more delivery friendly for BarrowEats and will soon launch their famous Easter egg desserts again.

Dave Turner, owner of TNT Records on Duke Street said the news that they had to close the shop was 'gutting' as the vibes in store is something he really thrives on.

"We are keeping our click and collect as well as our free local delivery going now for orders.

"We did have issues at the borders with orders as we get orders that are shipped worldwide but that seems to be easing up now.

"The local delivery has been really popular, and people have been great feedback saying how they are getting orders within 48 hours, with some even being on the same day.

"We have just been overwhelmed with the support from the local people.

"I even had customers taking T-shirts off the walls on Christmas Eve!"

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The record shop saw huge demand before Christmas and is still going strong with orders through their website and Facebook page. Their hope is to reopen properly again so that customers can get the true TNT experience.

Colin Garnett, manager at Barrow BID, said: “This third lockdown will cause severe pressure, and non-reversible damage to businesses, many of whom have been harshly impacted by COVID restrictions for several months causing them to run at a reduced capacity or close completely.

“I am pleased that the Government has listened to calls for greater financial support for businesses and action from the Chancellor has been announced swiftly, but distribution of the vaccine and a return to ‘normality’ cannot come soon enough for many businesses.

“Barrow BID’s major concern is how quickly the area went from Tier 2 to a full lockdown and even though the financial support packages were announced swiftly, the Government need to provide assurances that the available funding will be constantly reviewed if the national lockdown in England is extended beyond mid-February.

“We would also ask that the Government looks into an extension of the business rates holiday and a continued pause on National Insurance contributions by employers for furloughed employees.”

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Barrow BID have offered their support for business, if any town centre businesses require assistance or information, email Colin Garnett (BID Manager) at: manager@barrowbid.co.uk