The Liverpool City Region, which St Helens Borough Council is a part of, has secured an additional £30million in Covid-19 business support from the Government.
It comes in addition to the £14m already received to support the local Test, Trace and Isolate system and local enforcement efforts, to make a total of £44m in additional funding secured in support of the Tier 3 restrictions.
The City Region also received £7m when it went in to Tier 2 status, meaning a total package of £51m so far.
The funding comes after the City Region was the first to be placed on the Tier 3 ‘very high’ Covid alert level restrictions, leading to closures of hospitality and leisure business and impacting many that remain open.
Leader of St Helens Borough Council, Councillor David Baines, said: “We have been consistent and adamant in every meeting with government that if they introduce extra restrictions they must give our local economy the support it needs and deserves. “This new funding, confirmed today, is a big step in the right direction and I’m delighted we’ve been able to secure it. On top of the £40m we’re providing locally for businesses and workers it should help the majority of premises through a very difficult time. “But let’s be clear – we won’t stop pushing for even more. For a decade our region has been underfunded by central government and we need and deserve the fullest possible support.”
Speaking on behalf of the City Mayor and Leaders of the six city region Local Authorities, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Once it became clear that Tier 3 restrictions were going to be imposed on our City Region, we held a series of meetings with the Government, throughout last weekend, with the aim of protecting our NHS and supporting local people and businesses.
“We have been absolutely clear since we were put in to Tier 3 that we would continue to press the Government and hold meaningful dialogue to secure vitally needed extra economic support.
“The result of this is that, today, we have obtained from the Government, an additional £30million in funding.
“This is welcome news for our economy and the thousands of people whose businesses and jobs will now be supported through this very difficult period.”
