Both the Trafford Centre and Manchester Arndale will be re-opening.
Following Boris Johnson’s announcement just yesterday, stores and shopping centres have begun making plans for their re-opening, which is expected to take place for all non-essential stores on June 15.
Confirming their safety plan just today, the Trafford Centre has revealed a number of changes they’ll be making, with the aim of encouraging social distancing for both staff and customer safety.
Stores in the popular shopping centre are set to gradually re-open and to assist with the government’s current social distancing guidelines, the centre will be limiting the number of people allowed in at one time, with limits being placed on both the number of people inside and the number of cars allowed into the car park. In addition to the limits, the centre will also be placing social distancing stickers around the centre and the stores to ensure visitors keep their distance.
While the centre has not been busy during the pandemic so far due to the closure of most stores, they’ll be continuing with their ramped-up hygiene procedures, which include frequent deep cleaning of touchpoints across the centre, such as elevators and toilets, and hand sanitation points throughout. All staff within the centre will also be required to use PPE.
Matthew Roberts, chief executive of intu, has said of the changes: “We have introduced enhanced cleaning regimes and hand sanitation stands throughout every centre, measures to limit the number of visitors and ensure they stay socially distanced once inside, and given our staff the protective equipment they need to stay safe.
“We know we cannot do this alone and everyone who visits our centres whether for work or to shop will play their part in keeping themselves and each other safe by following the official guidelines, and the instructions and safety information provided by our teams. Our teams have been working incredibly hard to keep our centres clean and safe during the lockdown and we are hugely grateful to them, and we would also like to thank our brand customers and visitors for all their cooperation and patience so far.”