Kirkby Lonsdale farmer urgently seeks clarity on financial support available to rural businesses

In Lancashire, the Government announced a £12million support package for businesses, however, the detail on how this will be apportioned is still uncertain.

John Welbank, who owns and manages Ireby Green, an independent family run farm, café and caravan park situated in the upper Lune Valley, said: “As a hospitality business in a tier three area, it seems like we’re being sacrificed, especially since this announcement was made without any information for affected businesses. More details are needed on, not only the regulations for businesses such as ours, but also details of the available support. We understand the government thinking behind a tier three lockdown, but to make this announcement without any detail will no doubt have dire consequences for businesses especially in the hospitality and tourism sector.For us, it is galling to be only 200 metres from the Yorkshire boundary, and two km from the Cumbrian border, both of which are considerably less restricted than Lancashire. Politicians locally have not helped to provide clarity either.”