Merchants can continue to serve trades

CONSTRUCTION leaders are taking steps to ensure safety first in builders’ merchants across Burton amid the second national lockdown.

Premises can remain open under the current Covid-19 restrictions, with the sector gaining parliamentary recognition, along with other key sectors, to continue to operate.

The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) produced detailed Covid-19 protocols at the start of the pandemic, and the advice will remain in place as new restrictions are brought in.

James Hipkins, BMF’S West Midlands regional chairman, welcomed Government legislation allowing builders’ merchants to remain open and continue working as a crucial part of the construction supply chain.

He said: “Our members have provided emergency support for the NHS, local authority and housing association maintenance teams since lockdown began in mid-march.

“Since then we have continued to operate safely, providing muchneeded materials to enable a variety of works to continue over summer. Now, with new restrictions in place, we continue to work to the same operating procedures.

“Our merchants will be able to ensure customers can access supplies, including materials and parts for repair and maintenance works, such as weather-damaged buildings, frozen pipes and boiler repairs, which start to increase at this time of year.”

John Newcomb, chief executive of the Builders Merchants Federation, said: “The Government has made it clear that merchants are a vital part of the construction supply chain and it is important they continue to support the construction industry to operate on sites, and to provide the link between product manufacturers and the firms and tradespeople that use and install the products they make.”