Great Yarmouth Borough Council pays out further grants to support businesses in the run-up to Easter

The next phase of payments under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) is available to businesses required to stay closed under the lockdown and which are liable for paying business rates.

That includes non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses. Grants of £2,096, £3,143 and £4,714 are available, depending on the rateable value of the premises. This payment covers February 16 to March 31, 2021.

Business that have already successfully applied to previous LRSG schemes should not apply again. The council will make automatic payments into bank accounts on/around March 12.

In order to further support hospitality businesses, the Additional Restriction Grants (ARG) scheme has been extended. It will provide an extra £2,000 for business-rated companies and £1,000 for non-business-rated companies that must remain closed. Businesses that successfully applied in January should not apply again, as payments will be automatic.

A new grant payment specifically for seasonal hospitality businesses is also available under the ARG for those businesses that can no longer open for Easter as they originally hoped. Eligible businesses should apply for payments of either £1,000 or £2,000 via the council's website at www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-businesses.

Cllr Carl Smith, leader of the council, said: "We are pleased to have received further funds from the Government to pay out to our local businesses to support them during this next stage of the national restrictions. This includes extra help for our hospitality businesses in the run-up to Easter, when most businesses in the tourism sector must remain shut.

"While most of these grants will be paid automatically to those who have already applied successfully in the past, you can check out the website for advice and support about the available grants and their full eligibility criteria."

Visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/coronavirus-advice-businesses for the link to the online form, information and support about the grants, eligibility criteria and further business advice. For advice relating to the grants, call 0808 196 2240.