Met Office launches search for the next storm names!

DOES your Uncle James move like a whirlwind? Does your best friend cause an impact wherever they go? Now you can give them the recognition they deserve, by naming a storm after them. The Met Office is searching for the next round of names ahead of the next storm season, and the UK public are once again being asked for their input. In partnership with Met �ireann and KNMI, the forecasting services for Ireland and the Netherlands respectively, the group has been naming storms together in recent years in order to help the media and the public communicate more effectively about the impacts of severe weather events. As part of the naming process, each of the 3 meteorological organisations get to name selected letters in the alphabet, reflecting the diversity of the three countries naming the storms. Names are selected for each letter of the alphabet, except for Q, U, X, Y and Z, in keeping with storm naming conventions. This year, the Met Office is asking people in the UK to submit their suggestions for consideration via its website. People can submit as many suggestions as they choose and also have the option of adding a reason for their suggestion to help it in consideration. The Met Office will then choose from some of the most popular names suggested. The Met Office adds:- "Submitting a name does not guarantee that it will be used in the final listing. If your name is used in the list, this does not mean you will be acknowledged as submitting the name. Any offensive names submitted will be deleted."

Urgent support needed for small firms in Liverpool City Region carrying the cost of re-opening delay

THE Federation of Small Businesses has responded to the Prime Minister's announcement of a 4 week delay to the final stage of the unlocking roadmap in England. They think the delay will be difficult for many small firms who had been hoping for the Stage Four unlocking to take place on the 21 June 2021 and now urgent support is needed for small firms carrying the burden of this latest delay.

FSB Merseyside and Cheshire�s Michael Sandys, Area leader for Liverpool City Region, said:- "So many small businesses across Liverpool City Region will have been waiting for 21 June 2021 with bated breath at their chance to be fully operative, without most of the restrictions and closures that have dogged us for much of the past 15 months. But despite a successful vaccine programme and all the best efforts from small firms, they will be bitterly disappointed to find they face at least another month of restrictions. For many people, it probably feels like life has been getting back to normal, but take a moment to remember that some small businesses, for example nightclubs, have remained closed throughout the entirety of the pandemic. They have gone 15 months without income, all while doing their best to support their staff, and they have now had their hopes of reopening on 21 June 2021 dashed. These sectors, and their supply chains, need ambitious and targeted support. It is fully understandable that as this pandemic evolves, the goalposts too will move, but many small firms who have been hanging onto the edge will be left wondering if they can survive further periods of restrictions without additional support. Previous local lockdowns were confusing and did not work, so we are glad to see that we are not facing a return to these today. 19 July 2021 must be the final date for when these restrictions will be lifted. It's crucial that we also understand the impact that these delays have on livelihoods as well as mental health. The decision to ease restrictions for weddings will come as a welcome announcement for those involved, in particular suppliers, venues and organisers who have seen the sector decimated over the past 15 months. However, in all of our dialogue with the Government during this crisis, the FSB has made it clear that support must be proportionate to the restrictions in place. These business support measures have been critical to saving thousands of businesses and jobs, but we must now push for more; at a time when so many small firms need that helping hand to survive."

The FSB are now calling for:- "immediate steps to support small businesses."

Michael Sandys added:- "Firms which continue to be restricted in how they operate need urgent support. The Business Rates 100%relief for the:- retail, hospitality and leisure sector, which is due to end on the 30 June 2021, should be extended beyond this next set of restrictions. Employer contribution changes that are due to take hold on the 1 July 2021 should be delayed until all restrictions have eased, thereby minimising the immense financial burden that small firms are facing. Many who have been unable to open are now faced with paying back their Bounce Back Loans. Government should consider writing off spent Covid Loans for the most restricted firms. This support has to come now. We understand the need to take a cautious approach out of lockdown but not at the expense of their businesses, jobs and livelihoods. So, the Government must act to prevent further economic casualties."

We want to know your thoughts on how businesses will be affected by the re-opening delay..?

BY now you�ll have seen that Covid19 restrictions are no longer set to end on 21 June 2021, in England, due to the surge in Delta variant cases. Instead, the country will stay in step 3 of the lockdown roadmap until at least Monday the 19 July 2021. That means:-

► Nightclubs and other businesses in England that were still closed under step 3 cannot re-open.

► Social distancing rules will stay in place. Work from home guidance will likely stay in place, too.

► Hospitality businesses must continue to operate with the restrictions that they are currently under.

► Upcoming changes to the furlough scheme will go ahead as planned. From 1 July 2021, you�ll only be able to claim 70% of the wages for your furloughed staff to a maximum of:- �2,187.50. You�ll then need to make up the difference to 80%, capped at:- �2,500 per month.

► The only exception to the lockdown extension is for weddings and wakes, which will no longer be limited to 30 people as of 21 June 2021.

Will these changes affect you and your business? Please do let us know by emailing us to:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Met Office launches search for the next storm names!

Urgent support needed for small firms in Liverpool City Region carrying the cost of re-opening delay

We want to know your thoughts on how businesses will be affected by the re-opening delay..?

Total UK cases Covid19 cases in and around Liverpool City Region