Coronavirus: Shrewsbury’s shopping centres prepare to re-open next Monday

Kevin Lockwood, Shrewsbury shopping centres manager, outside the Darwin Shopping Centre

Shrewsbury’s three shopping centres – Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside – will re-open on Monday 15 June, in line with the latest Government guidance, though not all shops will be open, and a wide range of safety measures will be in place to help people safely visit the centres.

The centres’ management team have been busy preparing for the opening by producing and displaying new signage, installing hand sanitisers, enhancing cleaning routines, working with tenants on queue management and implementation of the guidelines, and monitoring customer numbers throughout the centres.

One of the new floor stickers in the shopping centres

Kevin Lockwood, Shrewsbury shopping centres manager, said:

“We’re looking forward to welcoming customers and some of our retailers back to the centres, however the health and safety of our tenants, staff and visitors will, as always, be our top priority.

“In line with government guidelines, social distancing signs will be in place throughout the centres to remind people to stay at least two metres apart, there’ll be hand sanitiser stations throughout the centres, including on the entrances and exits, and we’ll be cleaning the centres – especially all ‘touch points’ – on a regular basis.

“We ask people to keep their distance, keep their hands clean, to shop alone if possible, and to use the escalators rather than the lifts if they are able to. And, before entering individual stores, we want to remind people to check their specific safety guidance.

“Once the centres open we’ll be monitoring the number of customers as we will be working to reduced occupancy levels to enable us to follow the guidelines.

“Our message is: please come and visit us and our tenants, but please do so safely and in line with the latest Government guidance – and please remember that things may be a little different to how they were before the lockdown.”

The toilets in the Darwin Centre are currently closed as part of a major refurbishment which has been delayed due to the lockdown. The contractors are now back on site, working within the HSE Coronavirus guidelines and hope to complete the works in early October. The toilets in the Pride Hill Centre will be open, though with reduced occupancy levels and a queueing system in place.

Kevin Lockwood with one of the new hand sanitisers.

From 15 June the shopping centres will open to the public from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday, and from 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.

For details of which stores are open, and at what times, people are advised to check the shopping centres website –www.shrewsbury-shopping.co.uk – or contact the store direct.

Likewise, for some frequently-asked questions about safely visiting Shrewsbury shopping centres, visit the shopping centres website.

To help welcome customers back to the centres, a short animated video has been produced to provide the key advice and information that people need to know before they visit.

Further information

The shopping centres are advising visitors to follow the safety guidance below:

• Be considerate and remain a safe distance apart.
• Allow lifts to become vacant before using and use the escalators if able.
• Remain a safe distance from others when using escalators.
• Wash your hands for 20 seconds, or use the hand sanitisers located throughout the centres.
• Shop alone when possible and please ensure your children socially distance.
• Check before you enter individual stores for specific safety guidance.
• This may include limiting the number of people in each shop.
• Please follow walkway guides and queuing systems.
• Use contactless payments where possible.
• Check for changes to opening hours.