Council leader asks Prime Minister for Unique Package of Support for Chester’s Tourism and Hospitality Businesses

Dear Prime Minister

CHESTER

I am writing to you to draw attention to the specific and unique challenges faced by the City of Chester in its battle against this terrible virus.

Cheshire West has now entered tier 2 (“high”): a position I agree is justified by the extent of covid-19 infection that we are experiencing. These measures are having an impact on all the areas affected by them, including in my own borough. But Chester is experiencing unique challenges. Our beautiful city normally attracts 14 million tourists a year, many from across the world, supporting 10,000 local jobs. The catchment area for more local visitors stretches across North Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside.

Within Cheshire itself, we have a ban on household mixing in any indoor setting. The Liverpool City Region is now in tier 3 (“very high”), with people required not to travel from that area. North Wales is under an even stricter travel ban, with no visits allowed outside welsh boroughs except for exceptional reasons.

Since the centre of Chester is just 2 miles from the Welsh border, and a 20-minute journey from the Liverpool City Region, the cumulative impact of these measures is devastating our local hospitality industry. Our hotel operators are receiving thousands of cancellations, our pubs and restaurants have lost the majority of their customers, and the businesses that support and service them are also threatened.

Thousands of people – employed and self-employed - fear for their livelihoods. Without urgent help, a jewel in the crown of the UK’s tourism and hospitality sector will be severely damaged and could take years to repair.

We are doing all we can to turn our rising infection rate around and are clear that escalation to tier 3 is not justified. With more resources for local prevention, testing and contact tracing, we could go even further. If we were in a tier 3 area, our businesses that are required to close, and the people who work for them, would be eligible for the Chancellor’s Job Support Scheme. But, in common with all other tier 2 areas, no such support is available to hospitality businesses in Chester. Councils in Tier 2 areas are also getting only a small proportion of the additional funding available at tier 3. The larger city regions, including Liverpool, Manchester and London, also have access to additional devolved resources to channel into urgent business support, which (despite our long-standing commitment to a devolution deal for Cheshire) are so far denied to us.

I know you’ll appreciate the unique role that Chester has played in British history and appreciate the precious asset it is for the UK’s future. I appeal to you to recognise the very specific and damaging circumstances now facing Chester, without any obvious comparator anywhere else in the UK. I believe these circumstances justify a unique package of support for the city’s businesses, or bespoke city deal, and urge you to direct your ministers to respond to the heartfelt pleas of our local business community.

I also invite you or one of your Ministers to come urgently to Chester to see the position first hand, and look forward to hosting you whenever that is possible.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Louise Gittins

Leader - Cheshire West and Chester Council