Dorset Chamber chief executive Ian Girling said: “The lifting of the latest phase of restrictions is a long-awaited milestone on our journey out of the pandemic.
“Clearly, it its great news and will be very welcome among many businesses in the leisure, tourism and hospitality sectors but it should also provide a shot in the arm for our local economy generally.
“The downgrading of the Covid-19 alert level from four to three and recent figures from the Bank of England forecasting the fastest economic growth in 70 years in 2021 also give cause for optimism.
“However, we must remain vigilant and guard against complacency as the virus is still in circulation and the ending of all government support is still to come.
“It is critical that we all act responsibly and abide by the remaining restrictions so we can unlock the next phase of the roadmap on June 21 and really start firing on all cylinders in Dorset.”
British Chambers of Commerce Co-Executive Director Claire Walker said:
“Businesses across the country will be relieved to hear that they will be able to re-open or restart more of their operations on May 17th. The last few months have seen many firms either severely restricted in their activities, or unable to trade at all, and this announcement will come as a huge boost to them.
“Questions still remain over what kind of restrictions businesses will be expected to operate under in the medium to long-term, and government must move to answer these as soon as possible. In addition, government must continue to do everything it can to support businesses in the transition back to full trading, giving them every chance to recover and thrive in a post-pandemic world.”