Northampton's hairdressers and beauty therapists' sigh of relief as businesses should reopen in April

A collective sigh of relief from Northampton's personal care businesses was breathed today (February 22) as the Prime Minister announced the national road map out of lockdown.

Boris Johnson set out his road map in the House of Commons this afternoon confirming that as long as the vaccine programme continues to go to plan, deaths and hospitalisations continue to fall, the risk of infections causing hospitalisation does not increase and new variants are not discovered, hairdressers and beauty salons will be able to reopen on April 12.

Business owners in Northampton felt overwhelming positive about the announcement and are hopeful that reopening in April will be the end of their year of turmoil.

Gavin McIntyre, owner of G&E McIntyres in The Ridings, said: "We understand that they are being cautious and we do not want to be shut down again.

"If that means spending an extra couple of weeks making sure the decision is correct, then I'm all for it.

"This should be the last one and we should be able to properly plan how we will go forward now.

"What going to the hairdressers does for people's wellbeing mentally and physically is so important.

"Our clients have said they appreciate what we do for them more now than they ever have and we can't wait to welcome them back, hopefully on April 12."

Natalie Faulkner, owner of Beauty With Inn in Harlestone Road, St James, added: "There is a light at the end of the tunnel, finally.

"It's nice to know and we can now get a plan into place as we look forward to welcoming customers back.

"I'm feeling a huge sense of relief and I think our clients will be too thinking they won't have to have these roots forever.

"I'm feeling positive and like there is finally a way out of this. I'm feeling like when we reopen that will be that and we will hopefully be home and dry."

Before stage two of the easing of lockdown can commence - the stage when hairdressers can reopen - schools will reopen to all children on March 8 and outdoor sports facilities will follow on March 29. On the same day, the rule of six outdoors will begin to apply once again.

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