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06
May 2021
Harrogate businesses frustrated over delayed covid restart grants
Harrogate district business owners have expressed frustration about still waiting for government grants intended to help them reopen safely.
The government announced in the March budget that restart grants of up to £18,000 would be available from April 1.
Harrogate Borough Council, which is administering the grants locally, has previously said it hoped to be able to start awarding grants from April 26.
It has received more than 1,600 applications and although at least a third have been paid, many business owners are still waiting for them and some are exasperated by a lack of communication from the council.
Kate Borgen, owner of Ikonik Hair on King's Road, was disappointed not to have received the grant before reopening:
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Matthew Norris, owner of Sandwiches and More in Bilton and on Royal Parade, Harrogate applied for a grant as soon as the scheme opened on April 8 and is still waiting.
He told the Stray Ferret he had emailed the council twice in the last week, and sent messages on Facebook and Twitter, without receiving a response.
The scheme has been criticised for coming too late to help many businesses which reopened on April 12.
Its aim was to help non-essential retail and hospitality businesses to reopen safely but stringent anti-fraud checks imposed by the national government on local authorities has meant that almost none were able to send out money in time for the initial easing of lockdown restrictions.
A spokesperson for Harrogate Borough council said:
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