Fordingbridge businesses react to 'roadmap' to ease lockdown

A new “roadmap” setting out dates for the opening of pubs and non-essential businesses as well as schools was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Johnson said his four-stage plan would be driven by the data as opposed to dates.

Schools will be the first to reopen on March 8 when there will also be some changes to socialising. But businesses in retail and personal care will have to wait longer to reopen – no earlier than April 12. For pubs and restaurants wanting to welcome customers indoors the wait is even longer – no earlier than May 17.

Caroline Roylance, who runs The George in Fordingbridge, said she was “cautiously optimistic” about the plans.

She said the pub was lucky as it has lots of outdoor space and it would be putting up a covered eating area to go with its outside dining pods.

However, she said the lack of outside space could present problems for some pubs and the weather would also be a factor.

“We are hoping we will be able to open in April but obviously we need to see what the restrictions will be. We are cautiously optimistic.”

Chris Chester-Sterne, of The Rose and Thistle in Rockbourne, said: “It is nice to know some kind of future. I am very weary it is guidance and these dates are not set in stone.”

The pub has already been receiving calls to book tables.

"Personally, I’d rather he just waited and opened everything all together inside as well in May,” said Chris, who was also worried the easing of lockdown restrictions could result in another spike. “My biggest concern is, are people going to go crazy come April and there is going to be a huge spike and push everything back and we are not going to be able to open inside in May.

“It is good we have got that and something to work to. I am cautious that it is just guidance and dates and depends how everything else goes really.”

He said being able to welcome back customers would mean the “survival of the business”, adding: “It’s been so long now that it’s been like this, in limbo for a year.”

“We just miss our customers and to get are staff back as well and get back to some sort of normality it can’t come soon enough.”

Before each new step, the government will look at the Covid-related data to assess what impact the relaxing of measures has had so far.

This data will be used to determine whether the next stage of restrictions should be lifted.

Retailer Dave Tree, of All The Cool Stuff in Fordingbridge, said the relaxation of lockdown this time around “feels more structured”.

He added: “Arguably the first third of the year has been lost for retail firms if you can come out for the remaining two thirds; for some businesses it may be too late but for the majority they will be able to pick themselves up and dust themselves off and move forward.”

He said the Keep the Heart Beating campaign would be helping to promote businesses in the town. A guide will also be put together of local businesses.

The launch of the Keep the Heart Beating campaign in July

Malcolm Carter, who runs Retro Barbers in Fordingbridge and Downton, said he was keen to get back and it would be “brilliant” to welcome back customers but admitted the date given could change if cases rise and he would “wait and see” what happens.

He said it would have an appointment system to avoid having too many people inside the shop. But he was concerned about another lockdown.

However, New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne said he was “very disappointed” by the plans, adding: “I hoped we would be opening up much more quickly: and have removed all restrictions by the end of April.

"We were assured the plan was about data not dates, but it is entirely date driven: the plan can be delayed beyond the date for each phase by increased infection rates, but may not be expedited by better than expected infections data.”

In neighbouring Ringwood, town mayor Tony Ring said: "Clearly the progress on reducing Covid infections and easing of restrictions announced by Government is very welcome great news and at last we can all look forward to a return of something like normal life but continued caution must be advised – the virus has not gone away and however good the vaccination scheme is there will still be an element of infection risk so while I hope that everybody can enjoy the freedoms of work and social life we can now plan we must remain conscious of the need to follow the rules."

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