Saturday
20
April
Concern over the future of hospitality businesses
19/01/2021 @ 09:29
The plight of local hospitality businesses could impact on jobs and the wider economy, a local politician has warned.
Elwyn Vaughan, a Powys county councillor and Plaid Cymru candidate for the Welsh Parliament elections, has warned that lack of support for hospitality businesses will have a long term impact on businesses around Newtown and throughout Montgomeryshire.
He has written to local businesses and others and raised the matter with Plaid Cymru members in the Senedd.
He said: "Bearing in mind the importance of the Christmas and New Year for trade, I’m particularly concerned with the lack of financial support since December. Many will have only received the 3k or 5k grant via Powys, and I’m aware that many of you had hoped for a similar sum in January.
He raised several points in the letter:
• Failure to open before mid-March, a full 12 month circle since first mandated to close, being closed for a full 243 days out of 365. 2 days out of every 3 since 20/3/20.
• It is important that this huge effort does not go to waste and that we ensure that the sector in Wales is positioned for recovery as we head towards summer 2021.
• Venues, often family run and employing predominantly young people, face a collision of financial challenges over the next 3 months: removal of rates relief, the start of repayment of CBILS/Bounceback loans, the removal of the debt moratorium on 31 March, repayment of the March 2020 VAT liability and, in many cases, the repayment of the backlog of PAYE from 2020. With no meaningful revenue likely before Easter.
He said he asked for answers as what financial measures will be put in place and what plans were in place to promote the area for holidays and hospitality in 2021.
Elwyn Vaughan, a Powys county councillor and Plaid Cymru candidate for the Welsh Parliament elections, has warned that lack of support for hospitality businesses will have a long term impact on businesses around Newtown and throughout Montgomeryshire.He has written to local businesses and others and raised the matter with Plaid Cymru members in the Senedd.
He said: "Bearing in mind the importance of the Christmas and New Year for trade, I’m particularly concerned with the lack of financial support since December. Many will have only received the 3k or 5k grant via Powys, and I’m aware that many of you had hoped for a similar sum in January.
He raised several points in the letter:
• Failure to open before mid-March, a full 12 month circle since first mandated to close, being closed for a full 243 days out of 365. 2 days out of every 3 since 20/3/20.
• It is important that this huge effort does not go to waste and that we ensure that the sector in Wales is positioned for recovery as we head towards summer 2021.
• Venues, often family run and employing predominantly young people, face a collision of financial challenges over the next 3 months: removal of rates relief, the start of repayment of CBILS/Bounceback loans, the removal of the debt moratorium on 31 March, repayment of the March 2020 VAT liability and, in many cases, the repayment of the backlog of PAYE from 2020. With no meaningful revenue likely before Easter.
He said he asked for answers as what financial measures will be put in place and what plans were in place to promote the area for holidays and hospitality in 2021.
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