Enfield Council has introduced new pavement licence plans to encourage and enable more businesses in the borough to offer al fresco dining and support the borough’s economy after months of lockdown.
The Council is offering a streamlined application process for table and chairs licences, with a small administrative fee of £100, and giving businesses a grace period allowing them to use tables and chairs outside – while their application is being determined – as long as they do not cause an obstruction.
Businesses owners who think they could benefit from the new scheme, which supports the reopening of Enfield and also helps maintain social distancing requirements among customers, can find out more at https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/business-and-licensing/covid-19-guidance-for-employers/.
You can apply for a licence at https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/business-and-licensing/street- trading/
Enfield Council’s move is designed to boost businesses which have been forced to close for an extended period of time because of the lockdown introduced by the government after the coronavirus pandemic hit the United Kingdom.
The government plans to introduce new pavement licensing rules later this month, but Enfield Council believes it can achieve the same result and support businesses more rapidly by tweaking the existing laws.
The Council’s scheme comes as the government issues new guidance for pubs and restaurants, hairdressers and close contact services and hotels and other accommodations which want to reopen after the COVID-19 lockdown.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Regulatory Services, Cllr George Savva, said: ”Enfield Council is doing everything it possibly can to support business and make it easier for them to reopen safely, and find alternative and innovative ways of delivering the services they offered before lockdown hit.
“Enfield Council’s licencing plans to allow businesses to trade outside with tables and chairs is part of our package of measures for our town centres to help residents enjoy Enfield safely.”
