Western Morning News (Saturday)
West reopens for business – but outdoors only for most
THE Westcountry is set to welcome the return of shoppers, day trippers and staycationers after a long lockdown winter.
Monday marks the next stage of the lockdown-easing road map allowing non-essential stores to reopen alongside outside service for cafes, bars and restaurants.
Hairdressers and beauticians will be welcoming clients again and holidaymakers in self-catering accommodation are set to return.
Shops are getting ready to open their doors and towns and cities are starting to once again come alive.
Clodagh Murphy, chairman of Exeter Chamber of Commerce and Ann Hunter, Exeter BID manager, said shoppers would notice some changes on their return to the High Street next week.
Clodagh said: “What has been so lovely is seeing people in the shops again, getting ready to reopen, putting out new stock, cleaning and decorating. It’s wonderful to see life returning,” she said.
But she warned with home-working continuing – and becoming permanent for some – enticing people back to the shops could be a challenge for some.
“We want to encourage people to reengage with the city again,” she said. “We are all creatures of habit but we would like people to explore the places that they may have forgotten about.”
Many tourist attractions with mainly outdoor facilities will be opening up again next week. But some are holding off until restrictions are eased still further.
The Big Sheep in North Devon has announced that it will not open again until May 17 in the next phase of the Government’s road map out of lockdown.
Owner Rick Turner said although spring is a key time of year for them with new baby animals being born, many of their attractions would not be able to operate. Animal shows, the
We have always prided ourselves on keeping our visitors and the locals safe. We won’t open yet RICK TURNER, THE BIG SHEEP, NORTH DEVON
indoor play area, the animal barn and the train ride will all be off limits.
“I do think that many theme parks will operate attractions which have indoor areas for queuing, which is not within the letter of the current guidelines,” he said. “We have always prided ourselves on keeping our visitors and locals safe.”
Many pubs and cafes have been working hard to create more outdoor space to meet the regulations from Monday – although owners admit the weather is likely to play a big part in how busy they are.