Closing the hospitality sector again is “unreasonable” and will “damage” the nation’s economy, according to Westside BID boss Mike Olley, speaking on BBC radio.
Mr Olley appeared on BBC WM with Julia Robinson from Southside BID to discuss the government’s announcement to shut restaurants, pubs, cafes, nightclubs and other hospitality venues from Thursday 5 November.
The decision made on Saturday night will hit Birmingham’s ‘golden mile’ of Broad Street and many other entertainment centres across the city centre and the rest of England.
Mr Olley, general manager of Westside BID, said: “The hospitality sector brings in millions of revenues to our UK economy and the government’s decision has put that in real danger.
“The treatment of the hospitality sector has been extremely unfortunate. Westside venues have gone above and beyond to ensure that visitors and staff remain safe.
“Past figures demonstrate that a very small percentage of transmission takes place within hospitality venues, so this is truly unreasonable.”
The second lockdown, which comes because COVID-19 cases appear to be steadily growing, is due to end on 2 December. However, this will be reviewed closer to the date and could be extended if the government feels the virus is not under control.
The full interview with Mike Olley and Julia Robinson can be listened to here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08vt8lz
By Luisa Huggins
