Today the Prime Minister has set out plans to reopen thousands of high street shops, department stores and shopping centres across England in June once they are COVID-19 secure and can show customers will be kept safe.
In addition, a new £50 million fund has been announced for councils across England to prepare for the safe reopening of high streets and other retail spaces. This money will support practical measures so businesses can re-open quickly when they are allowed to, staff get back to work and customers return to shops confident it is safe, including new signs, street markings and temporary barriers to help get King's Lynn and West Norfolk businesses ready to trade safely, not only on our high streets and towns like King's Lynn, but also in other local public spaces like our beautiful beachfronts and promenades.
James is pleased to see that that the King's Lynn and West Norfolk local authority has been allocated £134,654.00.
This new money will be used to introduce a range of safety measures to kick-start the local economy, by supporting practical measures like signage or pavement marking to protect staff and shoppers.
These changes mean events such as the Creake Abbey June Farmers' Market on Saturday 6th June 2020 can now open. The market will be open from 9:30am to 1pm and will observce strict Covid-19 safety measures. Buying from local Norfolk producers and small businesses at events like this will help them to survive and get through a very difficult time. Please read more about it here: https://www.creakeabbey.co.uk/events/june-farmers-market
The Borough Council will also be able to use this money to develop a local marketing campaign that explains any changes to the public and reassures us all that the high streets and other commercial areas are safe.
It is the government’s ambition to reopen non-essential retail in a phased way from 1 June, subject to the scientific advice. The government will set out further detail on how and when these can reopen safely shortly.