INDEPENDENT traders have reacted to news of a second lockdown, with concerns raised that the stringent measures may last more than the initial four weeks.

On Saturday, prime minister Boris Johnson announced the country would go into lockdown to help fight the coronavirus, lasting four weeks until December 2.

And Keith McNicol, owner of Richmond Classics with stores on Westover Road and Albert Road, said his staff were his priority going into the second lockdown.

Mr McNicol said: “My feelings with the second lockdown are it’s a lot more serious for retail now, especially the fashion retail.

“We take ten per cent of our business in December, so it’s very important, and I think once we’re all corralled into lockdown, it’s very easy for the government to extend as they did before.

“In June, it didn’t all finish until June 15, if it goes to December 15 then we really have a problem.

“My staff are the priority. Our staff are our asset, they are immediately, where possible, furloughed. Obviously with the website we can’t furlough everybody, but the majority will be furloughed.”

Mr McNicol said, despite having to close his stores for a number of months this year, he has no intention of closing them permanently.

“We have been in this town 33 years and we’re not going anywhere,” he said.

“What we are doing, is going online, but in a different way. We are using Zoom to speak to our customers.”

Meanwhile, the owner of Bournemouth Jewellers on Westover Road, Roger Bentley, said the second lockdown was “very concerning”.

Mr Bentley said: “This is a fairly new shop and I’ve got my reservations that it will recover in time for Christmas.

“Most jewellers, ourselves included, are almost reliant on what you take at Christmas.

“The majority of what we do, which is mid to high range previously owned jewellery, is something that’s really going to take a hit.

“We have 12 staff in total so the furlough scheme has been very helpful, but whether it would be beneficial enough to see us through another difficult year in a difficult road would make me wonder.”

Elsewhere, the owner of Brewhouse & Kitchen said pubs must be allowed to sell alcohol on a takeaway basis during the lockdown.

Owner Kris Gumbrell, who runs pubs in Bournemouth, Poole and Southbourne, said: “Pubs need to turn stock back to cash quickly.

“Most pubs have licences to sell off the premises, government has excluded them from doing that.

“They were doing it safely, now customers have been driven into supermarkets rather than small traders. That’s disappointing.

“You might have perfect beer stock which can’t be returned and you need to sell it to feed your family.

“Lockdown will be damaging for a month, it has already been damaging, we have had the best part of three months of lockdown.

“It is important government has a clear plan and consults the trade.

“Guests have been brilliant but they must be getting tired.”