AS the lockdown deadline fast approached this afternoon, businesses across Falmouth were preparing to shut their doors for at least four weeks until December 2, if everything goes to plan.

The centre of Falmouth was busier than would be expected on a normal Wednesday, but this was not a normal Wednesday and, in the High Street, some businesses had already closed for the duration. A sign in the door of The Star and Garter pub and restaurant read: "Sadly we are now closed until December, we hope to see you again soon Stay Safe x"

While the majority of business owners said they understood the need for a lockdown, many were today voicing concerns for the future and how they are going to survive, especially if it rolls on until Christmas.

Falmouth Packet:

Charles Page, who has run the Wool Basket and Craft Centre on Market Street for 40 years, said they had been the busiest they had ever been before the lockdown and hoped this would be enough to survive.

"We have been very, very busy," said Mr Page. "The bit we have been getting stuck on is our suppliers bringing it over from China and Turkey because of Covid.

"We had to close though. It's not easy but it is necessary. The choice was taken out of our hands. We are still here and we will be here when the lockdown finishes.

"We will try to do a bit of work, stock taking and try and keep ourselves busy, but we will be back here the moment we are allowed to.

"I think it is the right thing to do assuming it has got to be done. We don't want things to go down here as they have in the cities up country."

Falmouth Packet:

Irene Vidal had only just opened Rubicond Radical Book Shop and Cafe in St George's Arcade just before first lockdown, that time they managed to get a grant but are not sure whether this is available to them this time.

However she says she realises the lockdown has to go ahead. "It is helpful to stop this bug," she said. "It's just unfortunate we are doing it altogether. We were given a grant the first time and we just saved as much as we could. I was not thinking because it might happen again but because it is better to be prepared. We live in very uncertain times."

Being the owner of a radical book shop means she is no fan of the government's strategy. She said the routes for getting help were very unclear and at the moment all she had was selling her books online at rubicund.co.uk.

"I think their strategy has been chaotic and not constructive or cohesive," she said. "I think they do as little as they can get away with."

Falmouth Packet:

Ron Johns is one of best known business people in the town with his Bookseller series of shops throughout Cornwall. Speaking outside his Falmouth Bookseller in Arwenack Street, Mr Johns said he was going to be operating a click and collect service from his shop between 11am and 4pm, but was worried that the lockdown might go on until Christmas.

"We don't want to lock down," he said. "Two thirds of our business comes from the last quarter of the year. December is the jewel in the crown for our business. Our busiest time is run-up to Christmas, and Christmas Day is our busiest day of the year.

"I do think it was the right thing to do [go into lockdown] even though we have low Covid down here, we don't want it more.

"I think it will be different than the first time around as we have our click and collect and our website, but it has been a pretty disappointing offer of help from the government."

Tracy Moss who has run the Oceana Jewellers in St George Arcade with her husband Vincent for 27 years said she was "extremely disappointed" that the government had not listened to a wider range of scientists before introducing the new lockdown. "We are living through troubled times," she said. "I am a little bit worried for Christmas. We are hoping to get a little bit of business in the run-up to Christmas when this is over. We've been here 27 years, we'll be here when it's over."