New support for Blackburn with Darwen businesses under Tier 3 measures

The Government has announced further funding to support businesses that are required to close due to local restrictions.

Called the Local Restriction Support Grant, funding will be available for the firms told to close when the borough and the whole of Lancashire were placed under Tier 3 restrictions.

Businesses required to close under the local restrictions and eligible to claim the grant are:

• pubs and bars (unless they serve substantial meals)
• soft play areas
• adult gaming centres
• betting shops
• bingo halls

This new grant will only apply to businesses that were open as usual before the restriction and paying business rates for the premises as of October 14^th 2020.

To apply for the Local Restriction Grant, please go to: https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/coronavirus/support-business

For more information on the grant, go to: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-the-coronavirus-local-restrictions-support-grant

If you are successful with your application the payments will be based on the rateable value of your property. If your rateable value is £15,000 or lower, you will receive £667 per two-week qualifying restriction period.

If your rateable value is over £15,000 and less than £51,000 you will receive £1,000 per two-week qualifying restriction period

If your rateable value is £51,000 or above you will receive £1,500 per two-week qualifying restriction period.

Other funding for businesses will also be made available to the council. We will share further details with you as soon as possible once we receive this from Government

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

The new rules brought in by the Government means quite a few businesses in the borough are not able to open right now, so obviously any help we can give them is crucial. We know it is not as good as staying open and making your usual living, but these grants should hopefully go some way to plugging a gap temporarily while the Government restrictions are in place.”