THE owners of a Station Road salon are fearing for the future of their business due to the tiered coronavirus restrictions.

Rem Hillback and his partner David Polfus have owned the successful Rem UK salon for more than 20 years.

But while Northwich sits in Tier 2, many of the salon's clients are from Greater Manchester, which is facing Tier 3 restrictions including advice not to travel outside the area.

"This is potentially devastating for our business as we are faced with the prospect of cancelling 70 of 80 appointments over the next month," said David.

"The immediate impact on my cashflow will be difficult enough, but our bigger concern is that if the restrictions are renewed for a further 28 days, we could face a loss of client confidence from which we may not recover.

"We have taken all the financial support available, but it is simply not enough to cover what we will lose.”

Rem and David already had to make a number of staff redundant once salons reopened because of the limited number of clients permitted due to social distancing guidelines, and they fear what the financial impact of the current restrictions could be.

The salon has made a considerable investment in providing a Covid-secure environment, passing two inspections, and its owners insist the risk of infection is low.

The National Hair and Beauty Federation (NHBF), the industry’s largest trade body, has advised the business not to take any customers from Tier 3 areas because it would be liable if there was a coronavirus outbreak.

Northwich Guardian:

Rem Hillback has run the business with partner David Polfus for more than 20 years

However, the rules as they stand mean a mobile stylist could travel from Northwich to Greater Manchester because the journey would be classed as travelling for work, while any staff living in a Tier 3 area could also travel to the salon for the same reason.

Richard Lambert, chief executive of the NHBF, said: "In view of the devastating impact this is going to have on these businesses, the NHBF is asking the government to consider amending the guidance to permit an exception to travel to 'non-social commercial or business appointments', which would then put these salons on the same footing as their mobile competitors.

"It’s a case of either amend the regulations or provide more financial support to stop previously solid businesses like this closing and having to make a significant number of staff redundant.

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"Surely this action now will save the economy millions in the immediate future."

A survey from the NHBF found that 62 per cent of its members could not be sure of surviving until the end of the current financial year on March 31, 2021.