The word Snow Day might bring smiles of delight to the faces of school children in the UK but across the South East in the past few days it has brought frowns to many business owners.
The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) told the BBC as many as 800-900 small businesses were under threat as a result of the cold snap.
The hospitality industry has been hit particularly badly. Bars and restaurants which rely heavily on cash flow have been feeling lack of customers due to the snow.
The south east’s travel networks have been severely hit with Gatwick airport only just re-opening after two days full closure and many train lines not running. Commuters from Brighton had to spend the night on a train halfway to London last night as it broke down in the wintery conditions.
Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the CEBR, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that about one-fifth of the economy had been affected, costing about £1bn every day.
He went on to say that “If a restaurant loses a night’s business, it’s not going to get it back,” and “I think at least a few hundred, maybe as many as 800 or 900, could go bankrupt that otherwise wouldn’t have because this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
The Daily Express yesterday ran the headline “Britain was running out of food last night as the big freeze paralysed the transport network.”
The cold snap has forced Chelsea Football Club (CFC) to cancel its festive marquee at Canary Wharf, which was due to open on 1 December.
The CFC marquee was meant to be situated at Reuters Plaza and was going to provide commuters with festive food and drink with mince pies and hot mulled wine, as well as CFC branded scarves and pens.
Travel misery is set to continue today and tomorrow, with forecasters predicting up to 20cm (8in) of fresh snow across the East of England and more blizzards in London and the South East.
With this the third year in a row London and the South East has been snowed in it begs the question, what can be done to ease the hardship bad weather causes business and individuals alike?
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