MP believes Eat Out to Help Out saved some Bassetlaw businesses from going under

Additionally, we discussed the success of the Eat Out To Help Out scheme in Bassetlaw with more than 72,000 meals being discounted with 96 local businesses taking part.

I am absolutely thrilled at the level of support local people in Bassetlaw have provided to our brilliant restaurants and hospitality businesses.

Eat Out to Help Out was always about far more than just giving people money off their meals.

It was about protecting jobs which are reliant on businesses which have really struggled through coronavirus.

I have no doubt that there are businesses in Bassetlaw today which, without this brilliant scheme, may not have made it through the summer.

I hope local people will continue to support them in the months ahead.

Government schemes have helped a great many local businesses, with over 2,300 businesses receiving business grants.

Thankfully, where companies and organisations have been unable to qualify for these sorts of grants, the government has worked with other organisations to provide additional lines of support.

In particular, I would like mention success of the North Notts Arena which has managed to secure funding from the Big Lottery Community Fund, Sports England and Seven Trent, and I would like to thank Nigel Turner and his team for fighting to keep this asset open.

I am currently in the process of getting out my annual report to residents to keep you up to date on the work I have done since being elected .

I would also like to take this time to remind residents again about my campaign for one hour’s free car parking in both Worksop and Retford town centres.

This petition aims to get Bassetlaw District Council to implement at least one hour’s free car parking like so many other local neighbouring councils.

You can sign my petition here.

Brendan Clarke-Smith is MP for Bassetlaw.