Businesses being urged to operate responsibly this summer

Wiltshire Council and Wiltshire Police are urging local businesses to continue to operate responsibly as we continue through the busy summer season.

The council is starting to become aware of, and receive applications for, events taking place at locations across Wiltshire with live bands performing.

Current Government guidance states that venues should not permit live performances to take place. The council is working with businesses to offer advice and guidance so that they can safely welcome people back to their venues in a COVID-secure way. However, it is important that owners take responsible steps to avoid entertainment that will encourage people to forget social distancing measures, to help keep transmission of the virus low across Wiltshire.

The council and government do have powers to prohibit events if they have concerns about the possible impact on public safety but this would be a last resort. We hope by encouraging responsible behaviour, business owners and venues will consider the wider implications that live music events could have. These events, even if designed to be held in a socially distanced way will inevitably lead to people singing and dancing and mixing with others outside of their household. We continue to see outbreaks of the virus across the country and the threat of local lockdown remains a very real possibility, as we have seen in other areas.

We want people to enjoy meeting family and friends and enjoying a day out to support their local businesses but it is vital we continue to observe the social distancing measures that are still in place.

For advice and guidance you can contact publicprotectionwest@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window).