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13
May 2020
Businesses reliant on tourism for their income have expressed fears that the local economy could struggle to recover if social distancing guidelines remain in place in the long term.
Hospitality business owners say that, with a high reliance on Harrogate Convention Centre for their trade, having it out of action - either while in use as a Nightingale hospital or because social distancing does not allow events to take place - is extremely worrying.
While many say they understand and agree with the Nightingale hospital remaining on stand-by, it leaves a question mark over the income of dozens of local businesses reliant on tourism and corporate events. Kim Wilson, chair of guesthouse association Accommodation Harrogate, said:
The convention centre website says it contributes around £60m to the local economy, and its director has vowed to do all she can to support local businesses.
Having opened in September 2017, No 35 coffee shop on Cheltenham Crescent initially closed during lockdown, but re-opened offering take-away drinks at the beginning of May. Owner Nino Cutino said:
Mr Cutino said he fully supports use of HCC as a Nightingale hospital, and believes leaving it there for some time is the only sensible option, in case of a second wave of Covid-19, even if it impacts on local businesses. He added:
Some autumn events have been postponed to future dates, but she said there are still large events booked in which will go ahead with social distancing measures if possible.
Among those rescheduled to autumn is the Nursery Fair, now set to take place from October 18 to 20. Show organiser Adrian Sneyd said:
Upper Street Events, organisers of the Knitting & Stitching Show and Country Living Christmas Fair - which each bring thousands of visitors to Harrogate in the weeks before Christmas - said they were planning for the events to go ahead. A spokesman said:
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