Mayor of Chichester fears shops will be lost after lockdown - 'Please, come and support city centre businesses'

Mayor of Chichester, Richard Plowman has pleaded with shoppers to support city centre businesses during such an important time and warned that many may find it difficult to carry on, resulting in more empty shops.

Mr Plowman said: “The Prime Minister said this would be finished by May and then by the Autumn and then by Christmas. Who knows how long it is going to go on to. The longer it goes on, the more devastating the effect is going to be on our high street and city centre shops.

“I have spoken with a couple of retailers who have been struggling. They are hoping to keep going until Christmas.

"This time is such an important time for them. November is the second biggest number for them in sales.

"With lockdown coming, many of them are going to find it difficult to carry on. We are going to see more empty shops in the centre of Chichester. That really concerns me.”

Mr Plowman had a message for residents.

He said: “Please, come and support the city centre businesses that are remaining open and shop locally wherever you can.

“They try so hard the retailers, with all the Covid regulations. They can only usually get a few people in the shop anyway. The turnover will always be low.

"Their outgoings don’t change with rent, rates and utility bills. If they can’t get the customers, they really are in trouble. We have to support them as much as we can.”

All the places in Chichester and Bognor Regis which will have to close during second lockdown

Chichester District Council said it was 'awaiting more details' from the government, regarding the economic support packages it will be offering to businesses.

A spokesperson said: "Throughout the year supporting businesses has always been one of our priorities and we anticipate that the second lockdown announced by the government will have a significant impact on businesses across the Chichester district.

"As soon as we are able to we will update our website to reflect the financial support available.”

Observer comment

The Observer will be launching a campaign to protect and nourish our local retailers next week.

The timing of the lockdown could not be worse for local businesses. It is in this critical run-up to Christmas that many of them make enough money to sustain them throughout the year.

So please don’t take the easy option and transfer all your shopping to the on-line global giants who contribute nothing to the Chichester community.

Back our business – in person where the rules allow or using their own online or take-away services.

If we don’t there will be no high street to come back to after lockdown and many more local jobs will be lost.

Full details in your Observer next week.

And if you are a business that needs our support to publicise your services please let us know at [email protected]

Have you read?: Bognor dad ‘sick to the core’ and unable to sleep after losing £30k in burglary

Ambulance involved in crash whilst transporting patient to hospital in Chichester

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.