Our town centre, like many other shopping districts across the country, weren’t designed for social distancing. As you’ll have seen in supermarkets, non-essential stores will be placing limits on the number of customers allowed on their premises at any one time in order to allow for social distancing.

When we have looked at the available ‘high street’ space at our town and district centres, there is not enough room to for people to safely queue while also maintaining the two metre distance between two directions of pedestrian walkway.

In order to allow for safe, sensible queuing areas, it has been necessary to put in place a one-way system.

We won’t be policing the one-way system but ask all shoppers to be mindful and observant of the rules. It will help to keep you, and your fellow shoppers, as safe as possible.

We are also mindful however that there will be some shoppers with access needs, such as sight or mobility impairments, who may not be able to adhere to the one-way routes. We also ask our shoppers to be patient and supportive of people.

In the town centre and other shopping districts, the middle of the street can be used to turn around as long as there is sufficient room to maintain social distancing with any queues that may be in place. If there is significant queueing and you cannot find room to turn around, you should walk further until there is a suitable gap to cross the centre and re-join the opposite one way.

The system will not be perfect and will require a degree of common sense and patience.

In district centres, residents will need to use existing designated crossing points to re-join one-ways in the opposite direction if crossing.

One-way systems at supermarkets, for example, can be time consuming to follow when purchasing a large amount of items, we think it is reasonable to expect shoppers to plan their walk through our town and district centres, and see there being limited need for people to 'double back' if they have forgotten something, or want to revisit a shop.

We think in practice, following a one-way system will not add a great deal of time getting from shop to shop.

We don’t expect everyone to be able to follow the one-way system – there will be residents who, for one reason or another, cannot reasonably be expected to be in the right place all the time. Residents who can reasonably follow the system should do.

We don’t want or expect residents to quiz or challenge other town or district centre users for this very reason – there will be a wide range of often hidden disabilities that will prevent some residents from being able to follow the one-way. Please be respectful of others and don’t jump to conclusions about why someone may not be following the one-way or queuing systems.

We will investigate ways we can use assistive measures to help improve this situation for those who have difficulty navigating a wholly visual sign-based system. 

In partnership with Warrington Speak Up, we have developed the 2 Steps scheme to encourage kindness and understanding for those who may find it difficult to follow social distancing rules due to having additional needs or disabilities. People with additional needs or hidden disabilities can choose to wear a 2 Steps wristband to show they may need some additional help or consideration from others.

Find out more about the 2 Steps scheme on our website.

There are designated queuing areas for the vast majority of shops in the town centre. This involves floor signage in public areas to support businesses to queue their customers outside of their premises. The purpose of this approach is to help ensure a clear, clean look across town and district centres, rather than having a large mix of different queuing signs and systems that would quickly get out of hand.

We are at an advanced stage of planning to increase the width of footpaths in high footfall areas, to avoid ‘pinch-points’ where this would prevent social distancing being maintained.

We are supporting food and drink businesses to ensure their premises are COVID-secure. 

All food and drink businesses must have carried out a risk assessment to ensure that they can operate safely. 

Businesses are keen to continue to provide their customers with a great offer, but things will be different than we are all used to. Businesses will also be working to ensure that their staff are working in a safe and secure way.

In order to maintain appropriate social distancing, businesses may be operating their reduced services with less staff to allow for safe social distancing. Please be patient and follow the processes they have in place.  

When collecting orders for takeaway, you may notice increased use of ventilation, such as windows being left open, hand sanitser stations and possibly queuing, or ‘one in one out’ systems.

Staff may be wearing PPE such as masks or visors. You must wear a face covering inside the premises.

Stay safe, stay local. If you have any of the following coronavirus symptoms, you must self-isolate and book an NHS (PCR) test:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia)

Please take steps to protect yourself by regularly washing your hands and by avoiding touching your face. When you do leave home, maintain a safe distance from others and wear a face covering.

Please follow any guidance, signage or markings provided and remember that venues will be operating in a different way with potentially less staff on duty, so please remain courteous and polite.

If you need to travel you should stay local and look to reduce the number of journeys you make overall.

It is important that you follow the government advice on safer travel and walk or cycle where possible. Plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport. This will allow you to practice social distancing while you travel. 

Please remember to wear a face covering on public transport and in public spaces.

It’s important to understand that businesses will still be adapting their procedures as we all get used to the new arrangements.

If, however, you have any concerns about whether a business is operating in a COVID-secure way, please report it to us.