Over recent weeks, I have been visiting recently reopened retail businesses across the Forest of Dean constituency. Last Friday, I was out and about on Newerne Street in Lydney with Cllr Alan Preest, Lydney’s Town, District and County Councillor.
We dropped in to a number of shops, including Raymonds Stores, The Card Box as well as the Age UK store.
As well as receiving feedback on parking in the town centre, it was also good to hear that those businesses who have needed support during the pandemic have been supported by the Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s support measures.
In the Forest of Dean, these measures have protected 10,400 jobs through the furlough scheme, with a further 3,900 self-employed people receiving grants worth £11.5 million in total.
I’m looking forward to visiting some of our tourism and hospitality businesses from this week onwards, as the sector that’s so important to our area begins to reopen.