A CAMPAIGN to support retail, hospitality and leisure during the pandemic is being backed by Northwich BID.

Business improvement districts across the country are getting behind the Raise the Bar campaign, lobbying Government to provide more support for the industry.

They want the eligibility threshold for businesses to receive the £25,000 grant increased from a rateable value of £51,000 or under, to £150,000.

Across the country, the feeling is that the current threshold excludes far too many businesses.

That is the message in Northwich too, where it is hoped the sector will play a key role in helping the town bounce back.

Jane Hough, manager of Northwich BID, said: "At the moment it is apparent that there are so many businesses up and down the country who aren’t eligible for the grant but won’t be able to survive without support.

"They are facing cash flow problems and aren’t in a position to be able to take on any further debt without severely jeopardising their chances of still existing in a few months’ time.

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"The businesses that this is impacting upon need to be able to play their part in getting the country back on its feet in the future which is why we are supporting the campaign.

"If thousands of businesses have to close their doors for good then there won’t be much of a retail, hospitality and leisure sector to go back to.”

The campaign follows a recent survey from Taste Cheshire which revealed that 40 per cent of the county's bars and restaurants could struggle to reopen after the pandemic.

See raisethebarcampaign.com for more on the campaign.