As Somerset (Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgemoor and Somerset West and Taunton) was earmarked to go into Tier 2 post national locakdown and North Somerset was facing Tier 3, the British Chambers of Commerce Director General, Adam Marshall, warned ongoing restrictions would have a devastating impact on business.
He said: “To weather a difficult winter ahead, greater support will be needed for the hardest-hit firms, including those in town and city centres that will miss out on trade as employees continue to work from home.
“Chambers have been clear that businesses need to see and understand the evidence behind these decisions. While the Government has today added some clarity about the rationale for which restrictions apply where, they must waste no time in producing a full impact assessment and engage with businesses on how to mitigate the ongoing economic effect.
“A review of tiers on December 16 will provide hope for a way out of the strongest restrictions, but the process by which areas can move into new tiers should be transparent and include clear triggers and enough time to allow businesses to plan accordingly.
“There is no substitute for a fully functioning economy. Broad-based mass testing still holds the key to getting employees back into offices, suppliers and customers into shops and international travel and trade back up and running. Chambers continue to urge the government to redouble their efforts to improve its Test, Trace and Isolate system.”
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