As a result of the second national lockdown, the UK Government has provided North Warwickshire Borough Council with the funding to be able to provide support local businesses in Atherstone.

The council began making payments on the grants last week to those companies that have been told to close.

Businesses will need to apply to North Warwickshire Borough Council via a simple application form - which can be accessed by following this link.

The information needed in the form will include the following as well as bank details:

a. Business Rate Payer name

b. Address of the business premises

c. Rate Payer email address

d. Number of employees

e. Sector

f. Unique identifier (Companies House Number)

Businesses that are eligible under the Local Restrictions Support Grants (LRSG) scheme will be those that have been told to close by Government during the current lockdown period and include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses (even if the latter are still open for takeaway).

The value of grants payable under that LRSG scheme are linked to the Ratable Value (RV) for occupied properties and are summarised below –

RV - £15,000 and below = £1334 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

RV – above £15,000 and below £51,000 = £2000 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

RV – £51,000 and above = £3000 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

Leader of the Council, Cllr David Wright said, "We know the arrival of these grants will offer much needed support for the businesses of North Warwickshire, especially those who had to close their doors for the second time this year.

"During the first lockdown, North Warwickshire Borough Council was the quickest across Warwickshire to issue these urgently needed payments we know how much these grants are needed, and we aim to get these payments issued as fast as possible."

In addition, Atherstone businesses will soon be able to receive payments to other businesses which do not qualify for the scheme above known as Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG). The application form to apply for ARG will be on our website when the criteria for the scheme has been approved.

The aim of this grant is to provide appropriate support for both the financial years 2020/21 and 2021/22.