'Pioneering' call to extend season along coast

Councillors want a Local Development Order in place by October, when the season would normally end for the winter, to allow businesses to recover.

Surveys across the county have already shown the serious implication of lockdown on businesses, said Chairman of ELDC, Coun David Andrews when the Planning Policy Committee debated the future of the coast via Zoom.

"We need to do all we can to help," said Coun Andrews. "A number of people have asked about flexible planning control, which would allow businesses to open over winter.

"If we set up a two-year Local Development Order it would allow parks and other businesses to stay open. It could also grant planning permission for various tourism-related projects straight away, helping the private sector.

"For businesses to survive a winter, followed by no season and another winter is incredibly challenging.

"We have a vote of confidence in the coast with the Town Fund and I feel this is something we could do to help beyond this year."

Coun Danny Brookes, who has businesses in Skegness, welcomed the idea.

"Businesses are currently suffering and this could help alleviate this," he said.

It was also supported by Coun Sid Dennis, who is also chairman of the Lincolnshire Coastal BID as well as running a recycling and waste business. He described the Order as a 'significant pioneering document'.

"I have 63 staff and 53 are furloughed. I always say when we have a lot of visitors we have a lot of rubbish. At the moment we have no rubbish and no visitors.

"This will be a lifeline for everyone - Fantasy Island, Butlin's, Hardy's Animal Farm, as well as the smaller businesses.

"We are about to enter an 18-month staycation and this is an opportunity for us all.

"We need to do it now - October will be too late - 10am in the morning would be great."

The council hopes to have an LDO draft by early June, with consultation beginning in July and ending early August.

In the meantime, East Lindsey District Council has revealed how businesses in the area will be able to apply for the recently announced Local Authority Discretionary Grant Fund (LADGF).

The LADGF is the latest support scheme that the Government have made available to help businesses recover from the impacts of Coronavirus. The Fund aims to support small businesses that have seen a significant drop in income due to Coronavirus restriction measures, but have not previously benefited from either of the Small Business Grant Fund, the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant schemes or other identified support schemes.

East Lindsey District Council will be administering the scheme locally and will begin accepting applications from June 3.

The Government has allocated £2.75m to support small businesses throughout the District with the amount awarded to each business dependent on the application submitted, up to a maximum of £25,000.

The Council anticipates the Fund to be oversubscribed and as such funding will be allocated on a competitive first come, first served basis - this means that not all applications will be supported. Applications will be accepted until June 30 but the Fund may close early, should all funding be allocated.

Councillor Adam Grist, Portfolio Holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, said: “I’m very pleased with the progress we have made in distributing grants and supporting businesses through the Small Business and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants. However, we realise that this continues to be a challenging and uncertain time for the local economy and we welcome the launch of the LADGF, which will help many of our businesses that found themselves ineligible for the previous schemes. I would encourage all of these businesses to review the qualifying criteria and if eligible, make an application once the Fund opens.”

More information on the LADGF, including eligibility criteria and a list of supporting information required to make an application, can be found at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/CVBusinessGrants. The application form will also be available on that page from June 3.

To date, the District Council have also distributed £43m of grants through the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant. However, there are still a number of eligible businesses who have yet to make a claim. The Council have urged those businesses who have not yet completed the online form to do so, as soon as possible: www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/grantfunddeclaration. A paper copy can be requested by calling 01507 601111.

More information around support available to businesses affected by the Coronavirus pandemic is available at www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/CVBusiness.