A WORKINGTON leisure business is fearing for their survival after energy bills are set to increase by more than £20K in the next year.

Lakes Escapes, on Stanley Street in the town have been in operation for five and a half years after opening in 2017, through their time they have faced challenges-but say they have never feared for the future as much as they do in the current climate.

Owners Carol and John Watson, received an email last week from their energy supplier which projected rates on their annual usage to increase £26,5000 from £5,884 per annum to £32,435.

Since receiving the bill Carol has spoken to the energy provider and managed to get rates reduced to £29,5000-which is still an increase of more than £23,000.

The business will benefit in the short term from som government support that will be available to them in March but fear they may not survive in the long term, when the support is withdrawn.

Owner Carol Watson hopes that come the better weather in April they will be able to reduce energy usage by not having heaters on as the weather gets warmer,she said: "I'm hoping that it does have quite a big impact, if it doesn't then we are in trouble from then if it does then I am hoping we can get through the summer but come September when the heating needs to go on in that building, we are just not going to be able to do it, there is just no way we can pay those prices for energy.

"We can't put prices up, we are in West Cumbria, people with personal finances couldn't afford it so we can't put our prices up, we haven't for the past five and a half years.

"Come september we can't carry on, we will have to close if that's what the energy prices are going to be."

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Carol said that even with the coronavirus pandemic, the energy crisis is the hardest challenge Lakes Escapes has faced yet.

She said: "It's just crazy to think that we have gone through two years of the pandemic, covid and lockdowns and then everything beyond that, because it's still not back to normal.

"Not once even when we were locked down did I think that business wouldn't survive and then now to be open and know that we are not going to be able to survive with these energy prices it's just beyond belief."

The owners think that the crisis will have a major impact on business - Lakes Escapes have been able to close two days to cut prices, but understands not everyone will be able to do so.

She said: "We are lucky that we can close part time but there are other business that can't, what are they going to do, it is just going to kill so many businesses this it really is."

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