"We have to be unafraid and positive" - Leeds prepares to welcome people back to the high street

It was the signal from the government that the high street had been waiting on for weeks - and from today non-essential shops can start trading again.

Measures have been put in place across the city's shopping areas to ensure safety of customers, visitors and staff who will also be returning to work for the first time since lockdown was imposed in March.

A new campaign is also launched today by LeedsBID, called Welcome Back To Leeds, as focus shifts to re-building the city's economy.

Martin Dickson is head of marketing at the BID.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "We have to be unafraid and we have to be positive.

"Once people see that Next, Marks & Spencer, Debenhams, Harvey Nichols and these staple high street favourites are open and that they are alright, I think it will help and people will think 'let's return to normal'.

However, he said despite increased numbers of people being seen in the city centre last week, the new normal will look different but retailers have been working hard over the last few weeks to get the right blend of safety and shopping experience.

Some of the measures that have been put in place include signage to remind people of the two metre distancing rule, deep cleaning of benches throughout the day and a one way system in centres such as Trinity, the Merrion Centre and Victoria Gate.

Some shops will have barriers and queuing systems depending on crowds. Some shops have been given the option of using a digital system with a colour coded screen in the window which indicates if it is okay to go in or not.

Mr Dickson said: "Four weeks ago it was a possibility shops could open but over the last few weeks it has sped up. All retailers and centre managers have been working fast and furious to make sure people are informed about who, what and when things are re-opening, but equally, if not more so, to reassure people that it will be safe."

A website has been launched by Leeds BID that is a one stop shop for information about shop openings, car parks, public transport and will be constantly updated.

So far it is expected that 65 per cent of businesses in Trinity will re-open today. The ones that aren't are eateries and bars, however, Trinity Kitchen is open for take-aways. John Lewis will re-open on June 25 in line with national policy and Harvey Nichols is set to open on June 22.

However, Mr Dickson said it can't be denied that there will be some economic damage but retailers said today's re-opening is a step forward.

One said if they only sell ten pairs of socks on day one it will be ten more than they have in the last three months and it is estimated that if footfall this week is one third of what it usually is that will be hailed as a success.

"The reality is really positive, all of them are like that. It has been hard and stressful and all they want is to open their doors. There are a lot of people desperate to have that sense of normality back in their lives."

Welcome back to Leeds is an info hub designed to help guide you safely back to the city centre in the months ahead.

www.welcometoleeds.co.uk

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