A COUNCILLOR is calling on landlords across Hagley to give businesses an extended period of rent holiday until they are able to reopen.

Steve Colella, Bromsgrove District Councillor for Hagley West, wants to protect people "vulnerable to the wider affects" of the virus once the Covid-19 crisis has passed.

Cllr Colella said: "Hagley has a vibrant business community and is supported by the people of Hagley and surrounding areas, so much so that we’ve only got one empty business which was a victim of the last bank closing over a year ago.

"It seems sensible to me that landlords share the pain and give unlimited rent holidays to businesses not only in Hagley, but across the district and nationally.

"In Hagley landlords have benefited from the good times its time they came forward with support in the bad times.

"I would also say that Hagley has a tremendous number of self employed registered that work from home. These include gardeners, beauticians, cleaners, electricians which use their homes as their office base. Whilst there is no income clearer support must be given to show how they can survive the coming weeks and possibly months.

"These are desperate times for many and we need to protect the vulnerable whether they are vulnerable to the virus or vulnerable to the wider affects."