Keswick Tourism Association Weekly Newsletter

With the announcement of the lockdown exit roadmap earlier this week, there has been lots of activity as members prepare to re-open and visitors plan to return to Keswick.  We have received a number of questions from members about the details of the roadmap and we have included this information in todays newsletter.

If there is anything at all that you are unsure of, please do ask.  If we don't have the answer, we can find out for you.

In this newsletter:

• March Advertising Opportunities
• Calculating Your Businesses Carbon Footprint Event
• Impact Of Covid And Brexit On Rural Businesses
• ‘We’re Good To Go’ Participants Get Global ‘Safe Travels’ Stamp
• Covid 19 - Updates and Information

March Advertising Opportunities

Public Newsletter - Our March Visit Keswick e-newsletter will be going out late on Monday 1st March.  It goes out to just over 16,000 public subscribers and is a great way to promote your business directly to people with an interest in Keswick.  The cost is only £50+vat.  To take advantage of this advertising opportunity please complete the online booking form (below) by noon on Monday 1st March.

Impact Of Covid And Brexit On Rural Businesses

Dr Paul Cowie, Newcastle and Gloucestershire Universities have been commissioned by DEFRA to investigate the impact of COVID-19 and the potential impact of Brexit on rural businesses. The research is being undertaken in 8 case study areas across England.  The research will inform DEFRA rural development policy following the UK’s departure from the EU and the end of EU Rural Development Funding. This need for a new rural development framework for England has taken on an increasing urgency following the COVID-19 pandemic.

 At this stage of the project businesses are being asked to complete a simple survey: https://glos.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/localperspectives_v2 . This should take between 15 & 20 minutes to complete and you do not have to complete the survey in one go.  

In addition, they are looking for 4 or 5 tourism businesses to be interviewed by telephone to give a more detailed response and allow the development of some case studies to highlight particular issues being faced by business.  If you would be prepared to take part in this more detailed interview, please email vanessa@keswick.org and we will pass on your details to Dr Cowie.

‘We’re Good To Go’ Participants Get Global ‘Safe Travels’ Stamp

Visit England have announced that businesses in the UK registered to the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard scheme are now automatically eligible for the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) international ‘Safe Travels’ stamp.

Find out more here.

Covid 19 - Updates and Information

Grants schemes extended
The Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) have been extended to cover the period 16th February to 31st March 2021. The payments for this 44 day period are: 

• £2,096 - if your business has a property with a rateable value of up to £15,000
• £3,143 - if your business has a property with a rateable value over £15,000 and less than £51,000
• £4,714 - if your business has a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or more

If you have previously received support through this grant scheme payment we expect that payments should be made automatically.

New Guidance On Reopening Businesses And Venues In England 
Further to the release of the UK Government’s COVID-19 four-step plan to ease lockdown in England, new guidance on reopening businesses and venues in England has been published.

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

VAT deferral scheme
This has now gone live, allowing businesses to:

• pay deferred VAT in equal instalments, interest free and,
• choose the number of instalments, from 2 to 11 (depending on when you join)

Learn more here.

Questions From Members

Q - What are the rules around shared facilities if we are in fact allowed to open up on 17th May?

A - We are expecting further guidance on this but anticipate that shared facilities at this point will be permitted subject to certain covid secure practices.  We will share definite details as soon as we have them.

Q - From 17th May, can different households share a room?

A - Yes, from 17th May a group of 6 people or 2 households are permitted to mix indoors.

Q - Can self-catering premises that have communal entrances to the building but their own front door re-open on 12th April?

A - The updated wording relating to this states "Self-contained holiday accommodation in which all facilities (including for sleeping, catering, bathing, and indoor lobbies and corridors for entry and exit) are restricted to exclusive use of a single household/support bubble will reopen."  Visit England believe that this means those premises with a communal entrance cannot open, however, a local cottage agency believe differently and we are urngently seeking further guidance on this.