Mid Sussex shops reopen – council leader urges people to support them

It’s time to ‘love our locals’ as shops reopen in the high street today.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

While many of us have missed a potter around the shops during the long weeks of lockdown, things won’t be quite the way we remember them.

Teams are hard at work ensuring everything is ready, with social distancing still in force and strict safety guidance to protect staff and customers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The reopening has come as a huge relief to the many shop workers and owners who lie at the heart of our local economy.

The Orchards shopping centre in Haywards HeathThe Orchards shopping centre in Haywards Heath
The Orchards shopping centre in Haywards Heath

Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, leader of Mid Sussex District Council, said: “Shops in our town and village centres all need our support to help them recover, protect people’s jobs and boost the local economy.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming everyone back into the High Street and we’re working with local businesses to put in place measures that enable social distancing and create a safe shopping environment.

“Local shops will be following clear Government guidelines on sanitation and social distancing, with your safety their top priority.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Protective screens, increased cleaning, extra customer service support and restrictions on the number of shoppers allowed in store are just some of the rigorous safety measures in place.

Mid Sussex District Council leader Jonathan Ash-EdwardsMid Sussex District Council leader Jonathan Ash-Edwards
Mid Sussex District Council leader Jonathan Ash-Edwards

“We will all need to work together to share our space and keep each other safe.

“By following social distancing guidelines, regular hand washing, and wearing a face mask inside the shops we can all enjoy visiting our local High Streets safely.

“The High Street has always needed the support of local shoppers to survive but now more than ever local shops need us to show them how much we value the goods and services they provide.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“These are challenging times for local retailers but a diverse and vibrant High Street benefits everyone so I hope you will all join me in shopping locally and showing them our support.”

Church Walk in Burgess Hill. Picture: Steve RobardsChurch Walk in Burgess Hill. Picture: Steve Robards
Church Walk in Burgess Hill. Picture: Steve Robards

A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton:

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

Stay safe, and best wishes.