CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has joined the growing chorus of support in a plea to help save hundreds of businesses in Chester.

The council's leader Louise Gittins has written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson appealing for extra support to help businesses and workers in Chester’s tourism and hospitality sector.

It follows Chester BID calling for support on behalf of the city's business community, where it said hundreds of businesses are 'at the point of collapse' due to a unique set of restrictions.

Also showing his support has been City of Chester MP Chris Matheson, who is currently self-isolating after having tested for coronavirus, but has spoken to Parliament raising the city's concerns and is also calling for financial aid.

Normally attracting 14 million tourists and visitors a year, and supporting 10,000 jobs, the geographical position of Chester is having a uniquely detrimental effect on businesses in the city.

The council has recently met and listened to concerns from the Chester business community. Businesses in the city of Chester rely on custom from people travelling over from North Wales and the Liverpool city region, in addition to customers from Cheshire West.

The business community in Chester have reported that the latest restrictions are, consequently, having a detrimental effect on the businesses there, which is in a unique geographical location, adversely affected at this time by its neighbouring areas having stricter COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

New restrictions place Cheshire West and Chester in Tier 2. This means that little support is available to hospitality businesses, an important sector for the city of Chester.

With the centre of Chester just two miles from the Welsh border, and a 20-minute journey from the Liverpool City Region, the cumulative impact of Tier 2 measures is devastating Chester’s local hospitality industry.

Figures on the council's own Covid-19 dashboard show the footfall in Chester city centre has dropped dramatically in the past three weeks by more than a quarter. The number of visitors is also nearly 40 per cent down on a typical October.

Without any obvious comparator anywhere else in the UK, the council is now appealing for a unique package of support for the city’s tourism and hospitality businesses, or a bespoke city deal.

The council leader's letter reads as follows:

Dear Prime Minister

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

Previously, the council has written to Government in a letter to Helen Whately MP on October 14, the Minister of State (Minister for Care) referring to the borough’s being placed within tier 2 (“high”) of COVID-19 restrictions.

The council has also, in partnership with Cheshire East and Warrington Councils, and its Local Enterprise Partnership, submitted a local action plan setting, including proposals for additional financial and operational support from central government.