Lowestoft Town Council
Lowestoft Vision has some helpful advice on their website for businesses looking to reopen next week, including a printable resource kit to help with adherence to social distancing guidelines. See https://www.lowestoftvision.co.uk/resources for more information.
We are saddened to report that the site of The Ness - the UK’s most easterly park, has been vandalised.
The site, on Whapload Road in Lowestoft, has been vandalised through spitting, urination and criminal damage. Workers have also been verbally assaulted over the past few weeks.
We are disgusted at this behaviour. Any incident of vandalism is disappointing however this incident is particularly upsetting as it threatens the safety of those working on site during the coronavirus pandemic.
Contractors Blakedown Construction Ltd are working hard to progress the project as much as they can during these challenging times. In line with government guidelines, they are only undertaking work which can be carried out whilst adhering to social distancing.
Those involved in delivering The Ness - Lowestoft Town Council, East Suffolk Council, Concertus Design and Property Consultants, Blakedown Construction Ltd, Allen Scott Landscape Architecture, Immersive Solutions and J P Chicks & Partners Ltd - are deeply upset by these incidents.
We know that the majority of people are doing all they can to prevent the spread of the virus, by staying at home, working from home if possible, keeping 2m apart if they go out and washing their hands regularly.
The nature of this vandalism is horrible and to do this during a pandemic is abhorrent.
Suffolk Police have been informed.
We are also aware that a small number of people have been breaking in through the fencing to visit the play area. Please don’t. Breaking into the site, even just for a look, endangers those working hard to transform this area into a family-friendly space for local people and visitors to enjoy. It is also an active construction site.
Work at The Ness will continue despite these incidents and once complete, and when it is safe to do so, we look forward to welcoming you all to the UK’s most easterly park.
Groups in Lowestoft may like to consider taking part in this weekend's Big Lunch. Head over to their website, https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/thebiglunchhomepage, for more details.
The Town Council is today writing to business organisations regarding measures which can be taken to help shops reopen safely.
Members of the public are welcome to submit any constructive views on social distancing, by emailing admin@lowestofttowncouncil.gov.uk
East Suffolk Council is now processing the discretionary business grants for local businesses provided by the Government in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
On 2nd May 2020, the Government announced that extra funding would be made available to local authorities to enable them to support small businesses outside the scope of the existing business grant fund scheme.
East Suffolk Council has been allocated £3,866,250 to fund the discretionary business support grants, and eligible businesses can now apply for grants of up to £10,000.
Due to the limited funding available and the need to assist as many businesses as possible, the District Council will not be paying grants above £10,000 initially, however, this may be reviewed as the scheme progresses.
The District Council has identified six areas as priorities at this stage, aimed at businesses which were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, in line with the Government’s requirements. These are:
Eligible businesses must have less than 50 employees, have been trading on 11 March 2020, and be able to demonstrate that they have seen a significant drop in income as a result of the COVID-19 restriction measures.
District Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “We know it has been exceptionally tough for those businesses which have been ineligible for any grants or funding so far.
“While this money is very welcome, it is limited, and we know it will be a lifeline for many small businesses. Therefore, we have taken the decision to cap grants at £10,000 initially to ensure we are able to help as many businesses as possible. This may be reviewed as the scheme progresses, but right now our main priority is to get this much needed financial help to our small businesses as fast as possible.”
The online form and full details about how to apply with full eligibility criteria can be found at: https://www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/business/covid-19-business-grant-funding/
Further information on other support packages available can be found at East Suffolk Means Business here
