Why Do They Bother

[teacake44]

Just read a report that opening the shops, cafes and pubs has failed to deliver the boost to the economy that's needed. Why do they print such tosh. Just out of interest did anyone on here expect it to? High numbers losing their jobs, some still on 80% and not knowing if their going to keep their jobs, but they expect the shops to be crammed full, and new car sales take off. Needless to mention they've only been open a few days.

[jno]

I'd expect a Day One rush followed by pretty low customer numbers for some time yet. Depending how many people have switched to online shopping, and how many people lose their jobs across the country, footfall may never recover fully.

[Prudie]

It is tosh and no I didn't expect it to, far too early to calculate anyway - but the reason is because so many people are terrified to go out thanks to the media (not because of finances).

[jno]

why blame the media, Prudie? It's the government who've been telling everyone to keep their distance or stay home; the media seem to have reported it faithfully.

[emmie]

it will take time for people to feel comfortable shopping, i have got used to online use, and may not go back to trolling around the shops, having said that i am not overly mobile, so the thought of going to say Primark feels me with unease.

[teacake44]

12.46 I agree up to a point with you, but if you know your job is at risk, or already gone, the last thing your going to do is go out spending other than food, at least that's the way I see it.

[naomi24]

Where's the report you read?

[teacake44]

Why?

[naomi24]

Because source is important.

[teacake44]

Why?

[ichkeria]

Yes I’d like to see a report: it is surely far too early to say if there’s been a “boost”.

I thought the government had lately been telling people to get out and “enjoy summer” and to support pubs and cafes.
Rather than just stay at home.
And quite right too.
Not that I did.

[naomi24]

Because sources skew facts to fit agendas. I'd like to know which source deems itself qualified to assess the result of the easing of lockdown after such a short time. Why don't you want to tell me? Something to hide?

[ichkeria]

You said you just read a report.
So it would be good to read it also

[New Judge]

Non-essential shops have been open for three weeks. Pubs, restaurants and barbers for three days. It will need time to get where it's going to get to. But the government's lockdown has caused irreparable damage to the economy. Many establishments will not reopen, especially those that were on the brink of going skint just before lockdown (and there were plenty, large and small).

I hope that people are taking their futures seriously because for many of them it will be bleak. Unemployment will soar as soon as the government's furlough scheme ends. Firms are quite happy to keep people on whilst the taxpayer is paying their staff even they're doing little or no business. They won't be so keen to do so when that finishes.

Coupled with this is the government's insistence on their social distancing "guidelines". They are urging people to get out and spend. At the same time they are making unrealistic demands of the hospitality trade when asking them to comply with their guidance. This guidance will be rigorously enforced by Local Authorities and make many businesses completely unviable.

My LA has just completed fencing off many areas of the High Street to widen the pavements (which are plenty wide enough anyway). Congestion getting into and out of the town is now bad thus putting off anybody arriving by car. Buses which normally accommodate more than eighty passengers are limited to just twenty. Smaller ones with a capacity of 35-40 are limited to eight or ten. Should the children ever return to school that will be completely useless and even as it is not too many people are venturing out by bus.

If the government wants to rescue the economy from the abyss it has created for it they must move away from the idea of a "new normal". There is nothing normal about buses roaming about 75% empty leaving people at the bus stop; there is nothing normal in widening pavements so that people need not pass closer than 2m from each other; there is nothing normal in imposing one way systems in large shops meaning people have to pass through parts of the shop they don't need to.

Normal normality needs to be restored, and quickly. If it isn't many businesses will indeed wonder why they bothered.

[teacake44]

May be some folk on here think that they should jump to you commands, but I'm not one of them. If you feel that you have received ( skew facts) then feel free to ignore this post. I don't jump through hoops for no one!

[naomi24]

No one has asked you to jump through hoops. Ichkeria and I have asked you to show us the report so that we may read it for ourselves. If you want to be taken seriously, that's a very reasonable request.

[jim360]

The conclusions of this mysterious and secret report hardly surprise me but I'd still like to see it. It isn't a "command" to provide a source anyway. Just common courtesy.

[Mozz71]

Hpw about if you are asked nicely Teacake?

Would you be so kind as to advise me as to which report you read, so I may be able to peruse it myself please?

[iluvmargie]

Does anybody know when furlough ends?

[teacake44]

13.23, Lets just say someone's cocky attitude won't allow me to make it known now, besides no one else seemed to think that I had given skewed facts, only one.

[teacake44]

13.22 Its not common courtesy to accuse of skewed facts.