The Opposition Hairdressing Leeds reacts to 'devastating' news of second lockdown as it opens 18 hours a day

The Opposition Hairdressing in Cross Gates is open from 6am to midnight for the next three days, as the team try to squeeze in customers before salons are forced to close.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a second national lockdown on Saturday evening, with new measures coming into effect on Thursday.

Hair and beauty salons, the hospitality sector and non-essential shops will close until at least December 2 in an attempt to halt growing Covid infection rates across the country.

The Opposition Hairdressing owner Carl Thompson, who has run the salon for more than 30 years, said he fears the second lockdown will have devastating consequences for the hair and beauty industry.

Carl, 63, said: “We were just about recovering from the first three and a half months and there was no chance to plan for this one. We’re well established and have been going for 32 years, so we’re in a reasonable position and we got through it.

“But this has been devastating for small businesses.

“It’s hard to quantify the effect this second lockdown will have, it took a long time to get any help from the Government during the first lockdown - it was 11 weeks before we got a penny back through the furlough scheme.

"We’re hoping we can get back open by Christmas, if not we’ll struggle as you need the Christmas trading to see you over the quieter January and February months.

"But I’m confident we’ll survive as my team has been fantastic, they’ve pulled out all the stops and worked ridiculous hours seven days a week since we reopened."

The salon has been transformed since it reopened following the first lockdown, with safety screens and social distancing measures in place.

Carl said he was not aware of any salon in Leeds which had been shut down and believes the vast majority of businesses are following all government guidelines.

Carl added: "We’ve taken every precaution and followed the letter of the law, our staff wear full PPE and we've had many Treatwell reviews praising our Covid safety measures.

"Having a haircut is about the experience - it was the little things like cups of tea and biscuits, but now the experience is all about feeling safe while having the services done.

"We’ve spent a long time planning and getting these safety measures in place, and now we’ve been told to close again. We’re all responsible people, so why can’t responsible businesses continue?"

Carl said he was frustrated by the lack of government support offered to the hair and beauty industry during the first lockdown.

Small businesses have been offered a coronavirus Bounce Back Loan, but Carl said salons are wary to take out loans when the future is so uncertain.

"We want more direct support from the Government in the form of a grant and a VAT cut for our industry", he added.

"Hair and beauty salons have been treated unfairly, we were treated as hospitality and forced to close but we never got the VAT break like hospitality did.

"We’re an industry made up of small businesses, but collectively it’s phenomenal the figures we generate for the country, you just have to look at how many people were queuing to get bookings in when salons reopened.

"I appreciate that we have to sort this out, but it’s like the rug has been pulled out from under our feet and there’s nothing you can do to prepare."

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