The following press release is provided for the information of business owners in the Keswick & North Lakes area. If you are a potential visitor to Keswick then it will serve to indicate that we are all working to ensure Keswick and district continues to be a superb holiday destination.

Press Release

The Town Council at a briefing meeting to review the level of activity being co-ordinated through its combined office and Keswick Tourism Association headquarters endorsed all action to date.

• Members heard that action had been immediate on receipt of circulated information that the Lake District was closed. Contact was made with Cumbria Tourist Board press officer who had already begun to moderate that message.
• The Town Clerk contacted MP Dale Campbell-Savours and a meeting was quickly convened with all sectors of our industry represented.
• The individual groups � Keswick Tourism Association, Hotel� & Caterers Association, Chamber of Trade, representatives of the outdoor clothing arm of retailers, outdoor adventure centres, a major food distributor and County Councillor Kemp advised the MP of the rapid acceleration in the cancellation of bookings.

It was agreed that the MP alert Ministers to the

• growing crisis and press for the recognition of the financial hardship envisaged
• need to introduce measures to give assistance with relief of business rates and deferment of collection of income tax
• need for an immediate professional risk assessment to relax restrictions were no risk was present to farmland.

Arrangements were made to seek a meeting with government ministers at the highest level, with a delegation travelling to London if need be.

The outdoor representatives of the group convened an emergency planning meeting to assess areas that could be presented to a professional for risk assessor.

Campbell- Savours advised that an opportunity to meet with Chris Smith Culture Secretary had been arranged.

All the organisations made immediate contact with members to quantify losses and an extensive portfolio was presented to the Minister. This included

• written representation from Keswick Tourism Association, North Lakes Hotel & Caterers Association, Chamber of Trade
• presentation of proposals by outdoor centres of �safe� recreational areas
• G W McKane representing the non service industries and trades people,
• Four Seasons Foods a major employer and distributor able to relate a wide view of the County as a whole.
• views from a representative of the National Farmers Union
• Invited representative to speak for individuals in business not represented by a trade association or statutory body

�Chris Smith was shocked at the haemorrhaging of business and left the meeting in no doubt that the Cumbrian economy was in crisis.

The group called for a number of steps to be taken

�         a consistent message from government/agencies urging visitors not to cancel holidays/visits

�         clear advice to TIC�s nationally advising that the area is open

�         clear advice to the CIB that large corporations should not be cancelling

�         clear advice to education authorities that they should not be cancelling school visits

�         a risk assessment by experts who would advise local councils of areas where outdoor activities could take place� which would pose no risk� to farmland

�         deferral of Vat� and Inland Revenue collections

�         relief from business rates for the period of the crisis (3 months?) times a multiple depending on how long recovery might take

All groups during the period have continued with their individual efforts, contacting the media, attending countywide strategy meetings with other Tourism Authorities, Cumbria Tourist Board and the Lake District National Park The intention of these meetings is to co-ordinate a series of countywide events and attractions open and accessible, as well as a series of safe walk routes to publicise web-sites, mail to visitors and distribute at TIC�s.

The group has now been joined by representatives of CCA (Cumbria Crisis Alliance) a group of 200 people at grass roots who have come together as a self-support group

The Town Council acutely aware of the wide impact re-iterated their fully support.

In setting a strategy to pursue in conjunction with all the organisations it was agreed that:-

• all measures to eradicate the disease are fully supported as a first priority
• clear messages are communicated to encourage visitors to return and participate in permitted activities.
• support is given to ensure that support and appropriate financial packages benefits all sectors.
• early contact is made with the County Council to carry out assessments aided by best farming and scientific advice to begin the de-restriction of areas, which pose no risk to the farming community.

The Council is to recommend, at the meeting to be held on Thursday 22 March that a financial contribution be made to the� KTA to assist with the additional extensive promotional material currently being produced to get information to visitors.

Questions and comments to Council Offices in Keswick, or use the KeswickPlus discussion forum.

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