During this crisis, we have had to get used to a “new normal” and then another “new normal” and then another and another and another. Each time the guidance changes, so do our lives. One of the biggest changes has been to see the shops, restaurants, pubs, bars and other small businesses that we love having to close their doors.
This has obviously been a very difficult time for the owners and workers in these businesses. Although many will have received support from various government packages, there has been a lot of uncertainty about the future.
Now, happily, we are in a position where most of these businesses can reopen, albeit in a very different way to what we’re used to. As inconvenient as some of these changes may seem, they are very important from a public health perspective as they are intended to keep us all safe and stop the spread of the disease.
As the businesses open, much of the support that was previously provided will disappear and so I’d like to encourage you all to get out there and support – in a safe way, of course – all the brilliant local businesses here in the Heatons and Reddish.
And we’re really lucky to have so many fantastic independent businesses right on our doorstep; Broadstone Arcade, A Tavola, I Knead Pizza, Littlewood’s Butcher, Heatons Hops and Feed, to name but a few.
So please, if you can, get out there and show some love for our brilliant small businesses and help them through this crisis.