Site visits, safety guidance and thousands of advice letters are among the many ways Bolton Council has supported local firms as lockdown eases and the borough reopens for business.
Council officers have been in regular contact with licensed premises, hairdressers, retailers and many other businesses to provide up-to-date guidance and advice around re-opening.
Since the beginning of July alone, 2,000 letters have been sent to non-essential businesses detailing how they can welcome customers back safely.
Ahead of pubs and restaurants reopening on July 4, every licensed premises in Bolton was sent a letter and a questionnaire to help the council better understand the challenges these businesses are facing.
This was followed up with site visits to check if any additional support was needed.
Beauty salons, tanning salons, tattooists, piercers, spas, nail bars and massage businesses have also been contacted with the latest government guidance around re-opening.
While the overwhelming majority of businesses have followed government guidelines to the letter, enforcement action has been taken against those that have put public health at risk.
Since the beginning of the month, the council has received 32 complaints about businesses not adhering to guidance or trading when they should not be.
Licensing officers and CCTV units have worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to ensure premises were abiding by the rules with some premises given guidance over isolated incidents.
The council’s taxi marshal service has been reintroduced to help clear the town centre more quickly once bars have closed.
I look forward to many more businesses opening and thriving with the continued support of Bolton Council.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Services Regulation, Cllr Hilary Fairclough, said:
“It is important to strike the right balance between kickstarting the local economy and keeping the public safe.
“I know this has been a frustrating and difficult time for businesses and we have been doing all we can to keep everyone informed so they can reopen safely when the time is right.
“Our regulatory and licencing teams have done an excellent job, providing up-to-date guidance and taking appropriate action against the tiny minority who have failed to follow the guidelines.
“As the lockdown eases, I look forward to many more businesses opening and thriving with the continued support of Bolton Council.”