Your high street needs you
Rallying call for people to Shop Safe and Shop Local
SHOPPERS in Loughborough are being urged to shop local and support the high street.
Charnwood Borough Council has launched a Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign, as they reassure residents that steps have been taken to ensure visitors can shop safely.
High streets have extra signage to remind people of the need for social distancing and barriers have been installed around Loughborough town centre to help with queueing.
Businesses have also introduced their own measures to ensure they are complying with the latest coronavirus guidance.
Extra cleaning is taking place in some areas, and pubs, cafés and restaurants have introduced a range of measures including test and trace.
Over the coming months, the Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign will be highlighting the steps taken to ensure high streets are safe places to visit.
The campaign is boroughwide, including shopping areas in Loughborough, Shepshed, Thurmaston, Syston, Birstall, Anstey, Quorn, Mountsorrel, Barrow upon Soar and Newtown Linford.
Councillor Shona Rattray, the council’s lead member for business support, said: “Our high streets in Charnwood need your support more than ever.
“They have been hit hard in recent months and as we continue to emerge from the pandemic, we need to help them as much as we can, so the council and its partners will be issuing a rallying call to get out there and Shop Safe, Shop Local.
“We will be highlighting what we have done and are doing to make high streets safe places.
“We will also be shining a spotlight on the local businesses who have also had to rapidly adapt to operate in a Cov i d - 1 9 world to look after their cust o m e r s and staff.
“We are very much in this together.”
She continued: “I would encourage people to support the Shop Safe, Shop
Local campaign by making the effort to visit their local stores and see what they have to offer.
“The pandemic has h e lp ed remind us that we can live life more locally and there is nothing wrong with that. “Shoppers also need to play a part by not only visiting the local high streets but
by making sure they follow the guidance on social distancing, regular hand washing and wearing a face covering if they can in shops.”
As part of the scheme, the council will be adding more signage to shopping areas, highlighting what businesses are doing to look after customers and staff, and reminding people of the latest advice and guidance on shopping safely.
The project follows the council’s Charnwood in Business campaign, which featured more than 150 businesses who took the opportunity of a free advert
in the local media, as well as being showcased on the council’s digital channels.
The campaign aimed to help companies connect with customers.
The Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign is funded thanks to the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund.
The campaign is also being supported by Love Loughborough. Lisa Brown, Love Loughborough manager, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Shop Safe, Shop Local campaign.
There are a host of fantastic businesses out there who have adapted amazingly well to the new world we operate in and we would like to make sure people know how safe our high streets are.
“Nothing is more important than everyone’s health and safety but we also need to look after the local economy and that can start by making sure people feel comfortable in their local high streets.”
The council and Love Loughborough have also issued guidance and support to businesses. Visit the council website for info.
I would encourage people to support the campaign by visiting their local stores and see what they have to offer