‘I can go and buy a bike from Halfords, but I can’t buy a baby car seat and it’s risking lives’
PRAMLAND BOSS’S ANGER AT LOCKDOWN CLOSURE DESPITE SELLING ‘ESSENTIAL’ ITEMS FOR NEWBORNS
A Well-known Hull retailer has criticised government rules which mean parents can’t buy “essential” baby items during lockdown, but people can still go to B&M for a lamp.
Pramland in east Hull was forced to close on March 24 when the country went into lockdown because the shop type was not listed in the Government’s list of essential retailers, which are allowed to continue to trade.
However John Barker, manager of the Courtney Street store, which has served four generations of families, says the items he sells, including car seats, cots and prams, are not only “essential” but lifesaving.
He said: “We are not classed as essential, whereas B&M, The Range and many other stores are.
“We sell a number of safety items that are essential for a newborn’s care yet we, as an industry do not seem to be on the Government’s radar.
“We have hundreds of expectant mothers heading towards their due dates and have no access to view and try nursery equipment. How can this be acceptable?
“Bearing in mind that car seats are a legal requirement, and the hospital won’t let you leave the maternity ward without a child being in a car seat, so you would expect there would be some provision for a safety shop like this.
“I can go and buy a bike from Halfords, but I can’t buy a baby car seat and it’s risking lives.”
The shop has continued to allow contactless collection of items that were ordered before lockdown, but has struggled to take new orders because it does not trade online.
He said: “We are too small to fight the system. I wouldn’t know where to go and how to go about it, it’s very difficult.
“We’re not saying we need to be open, but should be allowed to let one person in at a time, we need that reassurance that we can do that.
“We appreciate it’s very difficult and there has to be a line drawn in the sand somewhere, we are hopeful that the rules are relaxed for stores that can manage social distancing soon.”
Mr Barker had announced on social media that the store would open for one-to-one appointments, but swiftly changed his mind.
He said: “We did fully intend to offer appointments, but decided against advertising it as we may end up getting in to serious trouble.
“I have a very good plan on how we can offer a one on one in store service that would fully respect all social distancing and cleaning guidelines. It would ensure minimum risk for myself and the customer involved yet we must remain closed. It’s crazy that a cushion or lamp is regarded as essential yet a car seat not.
“We would have no need to even have queuing as we would operate with dedicated time slots. I guess my concern is we are fined or prosecuted for offering this and therefore took the decision to remove the post.
“We are a small firm and cannot afford to be fined or for legal action to be taken against us no matter how strong we feel regarding our legal position.”
The shop is offering video appointments, for any parents who still want to shop virtually and can take orders over the phone, then offer a contactless collection.
Mr Barker said: “We’ve never sold online. A lot of mums to be don’t want to order a pram online, it’s meant to be a nice experience.
“We can do video appointments. We’re trying the best we can to try and help those mums and dads, we are still taking orders, our suppliers warehouse’s are open, the couriers are open, but the supply chain falls down because the customers are not allowed in to come and view them.”