Eat Out to Help Out

I’ve been out supporting Furness Tourism again, promoting restaurants who have signed up to the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme which runs from 3 to 31 August.

The scheme offers diners 50% off meals, with the discount capping at £10 per head. The programme includes food and non-alcoholic drinks, and will apply to both adults and children.

I visited the Abbey House Hotel in Barrow, the Royal Oak in Spark Bridge, and The Farmers in Ulverston with Carl Bevan from Cumbria Tourism. All three have been working hard to put social distancing measures in place to welcome guests and diners safely back.

Lots of local restaurants have already signed up, as have several chains. You can find out which restaurants have signed up, and how to back them at:

www.tax.service.gov.uk/eat-out-to-help-out/find-a-restaurant

Restaurants, pubs and hotels are struggling as a result of Coronavirus - what better way to back them? Mrs Fell and I will be doing our bit this weekend!

Supporting tourism in Barrow

Tourism isn’t all about eating out, of course. I also spent the afternoon with Matt from Bee Arrow to record some lines for a new promotional video to encourage tourism in Barrow & Furness

Many of you will have had the misfortune to see me grumbling over the last few months about the coverage we’ve had in the national press. There’s been far too much reliance on the tired old cliche of “it’s grim oop north” in London-based newspapers, and too little focus on the amazing work that this tight-knit community has done to look after their neighbours, or on the amazing things we have on our doorstep.

So, alongside the work I’m doing with Furness Tourism, I’m working with the BID and local businesses and organisations to promote Barrow as a place to visit. The video we’re putting together will focus not on submarines but on the fact we have such incredible natural resources here (“ranked number one in England for nature”), 60 kilometres of coastline, and a wealth of heritage. I’ll share it when it’s done.

Brilliant Barrow

Friday also saw the submission for the #BrilliantBarrow Town Deal bid. While I may be biased, the submission which the team has put together is exceptional.

We’re not guaranteed the £30m that we’ve asked Government for, but the case is strong: a new university campus in town; a skills hub; community hubs; business support projects; new walking and cycle ways; the Marina Village project; and extra support for Furness’ tourism sector.

Winning this bid would be a huge boost to the town. Allied to the Future High Streets bid, Barrow could look like a very different place in just a few years time - with exciting new shopping, housing, and education offerings. Small businesses would get a boost, and there would be more to encourage people to move, live and stay in our area.

My fingers are remaining firmly crossed until we hear back from the Government on the submission.

Summer Surgery Tour

This summer I’m starting what I hope will become a tradition - an annual summer surgery tour. For a whole week I’ll be packing up my office and visiting every corner of Furness to hear from you.

I run surgeries every week of the year and think they are one of the most important parts of my job. But not everyone is able to make them - even using Zoom or Skype. So getting out is important - not least so that people who would never normally think of calling on their MP have an opportunity to do so.

I’ll share details of the Summer Surgery route next week and hope to see (at least some of) you there. And if you can’t make it - or if you want to see me before then - please just drop me an email at simon.fell.mp@parliament.uk and my team will set up an appointment.

Local lockdowns

A final note of caution to end on. Please remember to stick to social distancing guidance. We’ve seen a local lockdown in Leicester and now increased restrictions across numerous towns in the North West. The freedoms we’ve gained have been hard won in this pandemic and it’s on all of us to ensure that we don’t lose them down by letting our guard down.