Less than a week after Tier 3 restrictions were imposed, Salisbury and Wiltshire were plunged into a third national lockdown, with schools, non-essential businesses and the hospitality industry all forced to close.

The reason behind it is the record number of coronavirus cases, now out of control both nationally and locally due to a more infectious new variant, and the increase in deaths resulting from it.

In Salisbury, the lockdown announcement came as no surprise to most. But hearing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s address on Monday night (January 4) was still “devastating” according to one business.

Jayne Prigent, owner of JAS Hair Group, said: “The numbers are so high that something had to be done. It’s devastating to actually be in lockdown again so yes, I’m annoyed but I completely understand why [it’s being done].”

After the announcement at 8pm, Mrs Prigent had to cancel all appointments for the next day. On Tuesday (January 5), she went on to clear the salons’ diaries until mid February.

Although her staff, nearly 40 people, have been furloughed, and her business may be eligible for extra financial support, National Insurance and pension contributions for each member of her team fall on her and her husband’s business.

She is calling on the government to put in place more help them stay afloat.

She said: “It costs us thousands of pounds per month when we have zero revenue. Furlough is brilliant, absolutely brilliant but when they extended it and put the model out in November they changed it and put the National Insurance and pension contributions on the employer. 

“We need the government to take that away at the very least to give us a chance to keep going. My husband and I haven’t had a salary since last February, there’s only so much money you can keep piling back into a business.”

In November, when furlough was changed, the group’s three salons were still able to trade for a few days and therefore bring money in to pay taxes and pension contributions before furloughing their staff for the duration of the second lockdown.

In the next two to three months, as all salons are shut, that won’t be the case.

“I think this lockdown there will be a lot of businesses that won’t be able to survive because of that,” she added.

Her husband Neil has written to Salisbury MP John Glen to ask for the change.

Mr Glen said: “Over the past ten months, the government has rolled out unprecedented levels of support for businesses which have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.

“The furlough scheme has already been extended until the end of April and we will be continuing to keep all aspects of the scheme under review. On top of the furlough scheme, I was delighted to see the Chancellor announce £4.6bn of new lockdown grants to support businesses and protect jobs.”