The leader of Maldon District Council has issued an open letter to the area's business community as some of those in a "desperate situation" wait for grant help.

The letter tells how council officers are processing grant applications as fast as possible and have made a plea for patience as they work through many hundreds of applications by local businesses stricken by the current pandemic situation.

Open Letter To Businesses From Councillor Wendy Stamp, Leader of Maldon District Council:

Dear Local Business,

Business Grant Support

This year has been an unprecedented challenge to all businesses.

On top of the personal grief and national restrictions to our freedom, small businesses have been impacted like never before.

As a small business owner, I can understand the pain experienced by many of you as restrictions have persisted throughout this year, and seem likely to continue for some months yet.

Some of you may feel an understandable level of anger at the situation and frustration that the support promised by the Government is not reaching you quickly enough, or indeed at all.

I would like to reassure those eligible businesses looking to us for grants, that they will be coming. Our team have been working very long days, seven days a week for many months to process hundreds of applications across several programs.

We do apologise for any delay, but please understand this level of demand could never have been anticipated at the beginning of the year, and, like you, we are doing all we can to deal with the pressures we face and continue to prioritise what will best serve our customers' needs.

This may mean that some will face delays in being able to contact us or us being able to respond, this is to enable officers to focus on the delivery of grant support, with in government guidelines, to as many eligible businesses as possible.

As we approach the Christmas break, we know that many are in a desperate situation. In the New Year, we will continue to do all we can to administrate the Government grants and seek to support our local businesses.

All business support information is available through our website home page via the link here and social media with a link to our dedicated coronavirus page, business page and grants page.

All of which has been published throughout the year on our website, social media, shared with local leaders, existing business groups and local press.

I would like to thank you for your understanding and wish you a more prosperous New Year.

Councillor Wendy Stamp