With Boris Johnson putting down on paper what the road to normality in England looks like, members of the business community in Fermanagh feel this would be a sensible approach here, if the circumstances allow.

June 21 has been pencilled in as the date when all restrictions will be lifted, with shops not allowed to open no earlier than April 12.

The Northern Ireland Executive has yet to release their plans for coming out of lockdown but it is expected on Monday.

Noelle McAloon, from Enniskillen BID, believes businesses need the right information available to them before they open.

“What businesses want is clarity, they want a good lead in time and they want in that lead in time they are given whatever rules they need to stick to,” Noelle stated.

“I think there is a level of we are in this now, it’s not ideal but we are happy to hold on until it is the right time to open but when we open, everybody wants this to be the last lockdown so they want clarity and a good lead in time, that’s the main thing.”

Looking at what was published in England, Noelle feels businesses would be content with something similar here if it was realistic.

“In terms of the road map and looking at what England have been given, I think the businesses would have liked that to come through for Northern Ireland this week. If it comes through next week all well and good.

“I think as a business community we would say that a road map produced by Stormont that gives realistic achievable targets that give a good lead in time would be welcomed across the board.”

Government support has been vital for closed businesses throughout the lockdown to give them any chance of reopening and it is something that may have to continue for the early stages of reopening for businesses.

“There is some level of government support that should be phased out so you don’t have businesses reopening and getting a shock in terms of what the world looks like. And what their customers look like, has their customer profile changed and that business looking at all these costs coming in and maybe their income not coming in as it was pre lockdown and how do they manage that.

“I think businesses will need that four to six weeks to see how they are going to trade again and how different it is looking.

“Enniskillen BID will do whatever we can to make the town as safe and as welcoming as possible but it is just that unknown.”

Blakes of the Hollow closed its doors on March 16, 2020 and has remained shut all bar one week.

Owner, Pat Blake, knows that there are sectors in the community who are “chomping at the bit” to reopen if not only from a financial point of view but from a social point of view to break the boredom of the current lockdown.

But he knows that another lockdown is the last thing anyone wants is another lockdown and like Noelle feels June 21 would be a welcome date if the situation was under control.

“That would be a very welcome date if Northern Ireland is in a position to adhere to the same programme of opening.

“We would be delighted with that. We would love to see it earlier than that but the last thing anyone wants in the retail trade or any aspect of the economy is a further lockdown so it is better to grin and bear the pain now.

“And then hopefully when we do get open again that the community will be in charge of the virus instead of the virus dictating things to the community.”

Looking ahead to what the June 21 and beyond might look like Pat continued: “My expectation is that come June we would be largely back to normal trading by that time. The virus would be well under control but it may take a while for the general public and our customers to get back into the full swing in having confidence in regards to going out again.”

And he also hopes that people booking holidays in Ireland and staying local rather than jetting off abroad will help provide a boost to local businesses which welcome tourists during the summer months.