Over the past few weeks and months, large sections of our local and national economies have been put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout this, I have been in direct correspondence with many local retail shops, restaurants, hotels, and firms to help those businesses eligible to access support through the £190 billion worth of financial measures that the Government has introduced (including within the Chancellor's recent Summer Statement - A Plan for Jobs).
We have, however, arrived at a new point in our national recovery as we come out of lockdown. So far, the Government has announced that pubs, restaurants, and bars can open again. More recently, it was announced that outdoor sports and outdoor performances can resume. From 13 July, beauty salons, nail bars, and tattoo and massage studios can reopen. Finally, from 25 July, we will see the UK's gyms, leisure centres, and indoor swimming pools open their doors once again. We also recently heard from the Chancellor, who presented the Government's plans to stimulate and invest in our economy now it is reopening. He encouraged people to play their part in this national recovery by shopping and eating out, and the Government will very soon be launching fantastic schemes to promote high street businesses, such as the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.
Today, I visited a variety of local street stalls, retail shops, and a pub to discuss how the Government's support measures have helped them during this period and how business is starting to pick up again around our town. It was encouraging to see many people out and about in our town centre, shopping and socially distancing, and I was very pleased to hear how hopeful many of our local businesses are for the future now our economy is reopening. Colchester is #OpenForBusiness