SUPPORT OUR TRADERS!
Plea as indoor markets - and libraries - are back in business
TRADERS are being invited back to Stoke-on-trent’s indoor markets following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
‘Non-essential’ stalls reopened at Longton, Stoke and Tunstall markets on Wednesday, after Hanley Market reopened for all traders last Monday.
While some stalls, such as those selling fruit and veg, have been able to trade throughout the pandemic, others have been prevented from operating by coronavirus regulations.
Stoke-on-trent City Council, which runs the markets, has put in place measures to ensure traders can serve customers safely.
These include regular testing of onsite markets staff, and new training covering areas such as cleaning and security. The markets will also be well-ventilated with windows and doors kept open where possible. Although all stalls may now reopen, seating areas in cafe will stay shut until May 17 at the earliest. Council leader Abi Brown, left, urged shoppers to come back to the city’s markets. She said: “We’ve been working very hard to ensure our markets are Covid secure, so our traders can get back to serving their regular cusomers. We would encourage the public to support our markets.
“It may be that some shoppers would prefer to visit a market rather than have to queue up at a busy supermarket. While some traders have been allowed to stay open throughout the pandemic, I know it’s been a difficult year for others.”
The city council is reopening its libraries, which have been operating a ‘click, call and collect’ service during lockdown. People can now browse and borrow books from the shelves, as well as use the PCS, at City Central Library, in Hanley, and Stoke Library.
Tunstall Library will reopen today, with Longton following on April 26. No date has been set for the reopening of Bentilee and Meir, which will continue to offer click, call and collect for the time being.
Mrs
Brown added: “During the lockdown many of our library staff have been redeployed to other services, such as Stoke-on-trent Together, although we have continued to offer a very popular click, call and collect service.
“We are now looking at a phased reopening, and we are planning for all our libraries to be open again soon.”
Libraries will operate with temporarily reduced hours, and the click, call and collect service will still be available. For details visit the city council website.