Worksop town centre shops report ‘positive signs’ after reopening

Though shop owners admitted the town’s high street faced a ‘huge challenge’ after the November floods and Covid-19 the first day of trading was ‘encouraging’.

As part of the Government’s three-stage plan to ease lockdown restrictions all shops are now allowed to reopen.

However PM Boris Johnson has stressed it is vital traders meet coronavirus safety guidelines.

Many shops are limiting the number of customers in their premises at any given time - meaning queues outside.

While other precautions such as separate entry and exit doors, hand-cleaning stations and one-way systems are also in place.

Furniture store Eyre’s of Worksop Ltd - though classed as homeware and allowed to reopen two weeks ago - found business to be ‘better than normal for the time of year’ on Monday.

Manager Richard Shuker said it seemed as though ‘lots of people have been at home on uncomfortable beds and sofas so decided to come out and purchase’.

He said: “We’ve found business to be very good and we’re hoping people are now going to shop more locally and support Worksop.

“We’re definitely seeing some pent-up demand but the fear is whether more people will now be made redundant.

“There’s going to be uncertainty as soon as the furlough scheme finishes - but at the moment business is good.”

Richard said social distancing should pose ‘no problem’ for the store - which has separate doors for customers arriving and leaving and rolls protecting furniture from infection.

“This is a big old rambling building with lots of walls and customers are pretty relaxed,” he added.

“We’re not the sort of store where you have queuing outside - it’s a nice, safe environment.”

Clothes shop Cockney Rebel Fashions, who opened their doors for the first time since March, described Monday as ‘positive’.

Manager David Swain said: “There seems to be a real determination to crack on with things.

“While we all obviously need to follow guidelines we need to get on as much and as quickly as we can.

“There are positive signs but we need to get a few weeks under the belt before we get carried away predicting how it will work out - there’s a long, hard road ahead.”

Sheila Gambon, of Deuce Ladies Fashions, is limiting opening to three hours a day but said her first day of trading was ‘better than I thought’.

Owner Sheila said: “I didn’t think it would be very good but it was better than I expected - I’m lucky because I have a few loyal customers.

“I’m hoping people will use small shops in the town while avoiding big places like Primark or Meadowhall.”

However Sheila - who is only allowing one customer into her shop at a time - said Worksop faced a ‘huge challenge’ as many shops had not recovered from November floods before coronavirus struck.

She added: “A lot of the town was empty anyway - God knows what affect Covid-19 is going to have.”

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