Earlier this week, I had a useful discussion with members of our local tourism and hospitality sector including The Forest of Dean and Wye Valley Tourism’s Co-Chair, Helen O’Kane, and representatives of businesses including The Speech House Hotel, Tudor Farmhouse Hotel & Restaurant, Forest Hills Golf Club and the Dean Heritage Centre.
On the video conference call, I listened to the challenges they are currently facing due to the coronavirus pandemic and received feedback on what support the Government should prioritise for the sector in the future.
The Government’s huge package of support for employers and employees has been most generous for the sectors that have been hit the hardest, such as tourism and hospitality – including dedicated grant schemes for those sectors.
As of the end of last week, just under £19 million of Government grant funding had been distributed through 1,755 grants to businesses across the Forest of Dean by the District Council.
I will pass on the sector’s feedback to Ministers directly and look forward to engaging further with such a key sector for the Forest of Dean.
I am pictured in pre-Covid times at the Forest of Dean & Wye Valley Tourism conference.