How The Bridges has prepared for 'extremely busy' April 12 lockdown easing

Non-essential shops have been given the green light to reopen from Monday, April 12 as the easing of England’s third national lockdown continues.

The Bridges shopping centre has been open throughout lockdown to allow customers access to essential businesses such as food shops.

But centre bosses are braced for an influx of shoppers on Monday as the regulations ease and non-essential shops are allowed to reopen.

Buildings and Services Director Duncan Allen has been busy preparing for the big day.

"We expect it to be extremely busy on Monday,” he said.

“People are desperate to get back out again. We can see that with the number of people asking ‘Are you going to be open on Monday?’ and we are also getting a lot of phone calls.”

Measures will be in place to protect staff and customers, including signage, a one-way system and sterilisation stations.

"We have taken a lot of guidance from the Government guidelines and we are working closely with the City of Sunderland with Sunderland BID (Business Improvement District), trading standards and the police,” said Duncan.

“We have got Covid Marshalls supplied by the BID on the doors from about seven in the morning and we will have a full squad of security staff inside and the full management team to support the guys on the shopfloor.”

Duncan expects a couple of shops in particular to attract queues: “We expect Primark to be very busy. Last time we have to put an extra marshall on for that.

“We also expect Debenhams to be quite busy because they are selling off a lot of stuff.”

JustCuts hairdresser franchisee Sarah Rawnsley has hired extra staff for what she expects to be a busy period.

"I have now got five stylists – we did have three," she said.

Appointments will be available online: “We have an app you can download – the app gives you an approximate time the stylist will be available, then texts you when it is time to come to the salon,” said Sarah.

“We are all seated apart from each other and all wearing PPE. The scissors will be sterilised every time, we will have new combs every time, and the capes are being sterilised between cuts.”

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