Business closure update – August 1st

Certain businesses will not be able to re-open as planned due to further lockdown easing measures being postponed in Blackburn with Darwen.

The Council had already decided to delay the re-opening of our leisure centres, pools and gyms until we were confident the number of cases had reduced further and stabilised.

To support the Council’s actions, the Government announced that the next phase of business openings would be postponed in the borough.

These openings were due to take place on Saturday, August 1^st.

Places in Blackburn with Darwen that will not be able to open on August 1^st are:

• Bowling alleys
• Indoor skating rinks
• Exhibition halls and conference centres

Additionally, beauty salons and barbers will not be able to provide the following services:

• face waxing, sugaring or threading services
• facial treatments
• advanced facial technical (electrical or mechanical)
• eyelash treatments
• make-up application
• dermarolling
• dermaplaning
• microblading
• electrolysis on the face
• eyebrow treatments
• intricate detailing, outlining or shaving of beards

This does not mean that Blackburn with Darwen is going into local lockdown and this is different to the interventions in Leicester. In fact, these measures are intended to prevent this from happening.

A full list of the affected settings is available on the gov.uk website, including indoor gyms and other indoor sporting centres that were due to reopen from Saturday, 25^th July and casinos, bowling alleys, skating rinks and conference venues that were due to reopen from 1^st August.

Councillor Phil Riley, Executive member for Growth and Development, said:

We know this is disappointing for businesses and residents and we are working with the government on extra support for people affected by the extended closures. The health and safety of everyone on the borough is of the utmost importance and we need to get the situation under control to avoid a further restrictions and this is the way we have to do it.”