Chester During Lockdown

frankp57By
Apr-15-2020
Chester Today, Coronavirus News
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Just over three weeks into lockdown now. So, how is everyone coping? It’s weird isn’t it to say the least. Somebody I was talking to this morning (on the phone by the way), used the word surreal. And yes, it’s surreal as well. Surreal and weird. Could be a title of a new book. Or a TV series. Or maybe a film. No doubt there will be a film made at some time in the future about this particular period in our lives. Chester during lockdown though. How does Chester look?

Chester During Lockdown

I had to pop out today to go to the bank and to get some cat food. So, I thought I’d kill 3 birds with one stone. A bit of shopping, pay some wonga into the bank and get some exercise. Reaching for my ever popular, bright yellow, all weather jacket, it was time to instigate “Operation Yellow Flash Action Turbo Incident” – or, to give it it’s simple name OY FATI.

So, I bombed into town on my trusted bike.

First thing to observe. The weather was absolutely beautiful. The sort of day you would like to stay out. Take a trip down to The Groves with a sarnie and watch the world go by. But that wasn’t possible so I had to make do with making the most of the 30 minutes or so I was taking part in OY FATI.

Have a look at the photo below. I took it on my way to the bank.

Almost totally deserted. You will probably guess that I was standing on the corner of Frodsham Street and Foregate Street. This junction at about 1:30pm on a week day is normally bustling with people.

It was empty except for a handful of people. Who, I might add, were all aware of the need for two metre distancing. Well apart from one person. You can see from the photo I am right up against the wall in Frodsham Street. Oodles of space across the rest of Frodsham Street. Anyone could pass with a safe distance of 2 metres and a lot more if they so wished.

No sooner I took the photo, a young lad walked passed within about 3 feet of me. Maybe less. I politely reminded him of his need to be a bit more careful in leaving at least 2 metres between us. Or, words to that effect…..ish!!!

Chester During Lockdown-More Retail Casualties?

Maybe because it was so quiet, or maybe it was because there are more of them, but something stood out more than usual. What I noticed while walking through town was how many shops were closed. I mean, closed, closed. Finito, benito!!!

The number of “For Sale” or “To Let” boards is quite abundant. When we are back to normal, how many more will close? Hopefully not many, or any at all. But once we are back to normal, a few wake up calls will be going off no doubt.

Yes, the Government may have dangled a few carrots with regards to financial assistance. But that’s not the only issue though is it. As welcome as the financial assistance is, it will take more than taxable Government handouts to sort out what will be a huge mess going forward.

Maybe a bit naive of me to expect so, but other parties will need to play ball. In a big way.

Businesses Need More

Case in point. The banks. We all know how we, the taxpayers, came to their rescue back in 2008 and 2009. In a reverse of fortunes, businesses of all sizes and descriptions now need the banks more than ever before.

Already stories are aplenty of banks turning away requests for much needed loans or other assistance. Why would that be?

I would imagine it would be because loan requests are not fitting the bank’s rigid, lending criteria. You know the sort of criteria. New business with a great idea but no eye catching trading history, needs a bit of a leg up to continue with their great business idea and venture.

Bank worker looks at the application, the business and the idea as a whole. Hmmmm……the business, it’s history and it’s security may be good but it doesn’t fit in exactly with the bank’s, rigid, lending criteria written donkeys years ago.

Written of course without any need to recognise, or consider it at all alongside a real, once in a lifetime, period of being caught in the eye of an international pandemic crisis.

Why would they be written for such a consideration you may ask. The truth is they wouldn’t be. No need to be. But, hello, we ARE in the middle of a once in several lifetime, crisis situation. Something that no one could have expected, or planned for.

Using our new business example above. No pandemic, no need for a new business to approach the bank. The template, rigid, bank forms and criteria can stay in moth balls in this case. But, as we know, we are in the middle of a worldwide, crisis pandemic. So, through no fault of the new business, the pandemic has affected his business. Big time.

A bit different to the banks own crisis in 2008 and 2009. That crisis was caused in the main by……er, the banks. Emergency measures were required. Not the normal rule book. So, normal rules went out of the window. And as we all know, we the taxpayers baled the banks out.

Fast forward to today and the banks show their gratitude for the huge assistance we gave them by……er, not being very helpful to businesses and home owners at all really.

But, as I say, that’s maybe me being a bit naive in thinking the banks really do care about customers.

As an example, yes they may allow mortgage payers to defer their mortgage payments for 3 months. But what happens after the three months? What happens to the interest accrued during this period? You’ve guessed it. It will end up being rolled up and added to the existing balance no doubt.

In short, they will find a way to ensure that the customer will eventually end up paying for the whole lot. That may well be a lot further down the line, but customers will pay.

New Flexible Approaches Are Needed

Like in the example above of a new business now needing assistance during a worldwide pandemic crisis. The bank’s rigid, template criteria doesn’t fit the situation. Not in a million years. Does it. Never the twain meet. You’re not comparing apples with apples.

It’s a bit like when you see a politician being interviewed. Again, more often than not, never the twain meet.

“What’s the weather doing at the moment, the right honourable so and so?”

“Oh, that’s easy enough to answer. It’s ten past five.

“Er, no, I was asking about the weather. Is it raining? Is it sunny?

“Oh, I see. Sorry, I misunderstood. It’s nearly a quarter past now”

I think you see the point I’m making.

But in order to move forward, it is going to take a lot more than some taxable, Government loans or grants and the will of the people. And more than the banks to step up to the plate.

Hello, any commercial property landlords about? Many of us mere mortals are often left scratching our heads when it would appear that in many cases, rather than landlords accept a lesser than 100% rental income of something, they would rather stick to their unaffordable rent demands and actually receive a version of a full 100%. But in reality, they receive a 100% of nothing as businesses are forced to turn away and close their business down.

Hence the ever growing “For Sale” or “To Let” boards knocking about.

Charity Begins At Home

How does the saying go? Charity begins at home. So how’s this for an idea. And not wishing to light any political blue touch paper by the way. Just an idea to bandy around. We look for areas where we, as a country, we cut back on our spending. That is so that we put our own people and businesses first during these extreme times. So, for example, we could decide to make no more payments to the EU or foreign aid. Not necessarily my choice – just examples to bandy about. Or maybe, reduce these payments?

How much will that put into the pot? Sure there are other suggestions to consider as to how we, as a country, pay for our businesses staying afloat. But these two sprang to mind as they are both current and in vogue.

Would that be a goer? Decisions like this are way above my pay scale, so hopefully the powers that be do not only make the right decisions for the benefit of the citizens of this country, but that they are also transparent enough about the whole process.

Some may say that according to the existing rule book we are still obligated to make certain payments to the EU for instance and that is why we have to pay. But the rule book as we knew it doesn’t exist any more in its original format does it? We’ve already established that above haven’t we.

Chester During Lockdown-Oops, I’ve Waffled Haven’t I.

Anyway, plenty of things to consider by the powers that be way higher up the chain than me. I started this post not wishing to get on any soapbox. But once I started writing my digits (fingers) took on a mind of their own. So, sorry for waffling. But all the above is still relevant to Chester during lockdown. And way beyond as well.

Back onto Chester during lockdown more specifically. The city centre was so quiet. Take away the need for people to be self isolating and if today was a ‘normal’ day, the quietness was very pleasant.

Anyway, let’s hope we will be back to normal soon enough. But in the meantime, stay safe folks. Stay indoors as much as you can. It will help us all in the end.

Oh, and if by any chance the young man who passed by me a mere 3 feet or so away is reading this, give yer head a wobble fella!!!!

For my part, I apologise if I came across a bit too ‘narky.’

Unless of course I struck lucky and you didn’t think I was narky and by pure chance your surname just happens to be “Head”

Stay safe everyone.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

This one is a lengthy one as I say. Sorry about that if you were expecting a short one. But anyway, thanks for reading and thanks for visiting my website. To see all my other Chester Lifestyle blog posts on a variety of subjects, click HERE.

Places To Visit In Chester – Hang Fire Not Just Yet!!!

Hopefully we will soon be back as normal as can be soon enough. I can just imagine my first pint of Otter Bitter in The Cottarrrgge slipping down my throat as I write this.

But what happens when we are back to normal and you are gagging to get out? Where can you go? You can see a good few ideas HERE. Store the images this particular link conjures up and remember them when you are out and about again.