Huge queues as shops open doors in England
CUSTOMERS turned out in force as England’s retail parks, high streets and shopping centres re-opened after a three-month shutdown.
Lengthy queues of oftenmasked shoppers formed, many well before opening times, across the country’s major cities as people stepped out to bag a bargain or browse the rails for the first time since lockdown.
Shoppers have been encouraged to be sensible and adhere to new hygiene measures and social distancing, with a Government minister saying they are beginning to reopen the economy “gradually and carefully”.
While shoppers generally appeared to be keeping to the two-metre distancing rule as they queued, there were images of a tightly packed crowd outside the Nike Town store on London’s Oxford Street.
One customer described it as being “a little bit crowded”, but told reporters that staff “did all they could to put the measures in place and keep it under control”.
Long lines were seen at Primark stores across the country, with dozens of keen shoppers waiting outside branches in Birmingham, Derby, Liverpool and Nottingham.
Despite the large queues, a YouGov poll earlier this month suggested just 40% of people were comfortable to go back into clothes shops, and only 48% think they would be able to stay the required two metres from other shoppers.
Some 41% believe it is about the right time for the shops to reopen, but 39% said it was too soon.
Oliver Rowe, director of reputation research at YouGov,
said the polls show “there is a lot of work to be done yet to convince shoppers that it’s business as usual”.
Figures released yesterday afternoon showed that the morning’s footfall was up by almost half on last week.
Footfall across all retail destinations in England is around a third less than on the same day last year, the organisation said.
Shoppers described returning to stores as “a delight” and a “wonderful freedom”.
Small business minister Paul Scully insisted it is safe to shop, noting the new looks many stores will have as they attempt to ensure social distancing and good hygiene among staff and customers.
Zoos and safari parks were also welcoming back visitors for the first time since March, and places of worship can now open for private prayer.