Sunderland shoppers urged to stick to social distancing as the Bridges expects busy weekend

Many non-essential retail outlets reopened on Monday and now, with the first weekend of wider retail opening about to take place, city organisations are appealing to everyone to remember to still keep to the rules.

The Bridges is usually busiest between 11am and 2pm at weekends and managers are asking people to rethink when they come into the city centre, to stagger the amount of shoppers at any one time.

Bridges building and services director Duncan Allen said: “We are expecting quite a busy weekend so we just want to thank shoppers for the way they have acted so far and also to ask them bear in mind there may be extra people about,” he said.

“We would also ask everyone to look at the time they are considering coming into the centre and also to plan out in advance where they intend to go, which will make it easier for everyone.”

A dedicated cleaning team in the centre is keeping touchpoints, such as doors, railings and ATM and lift buttons, sanitised. Toilets and baby changing facilities are open again, with the doors manned to ensure a one-in-one-out flow.

Sanitisation stations are also in place so people can clean their hands as they arrive and leave.

Areas have also been taped out on the floor outside some stores to help people queue, while the decision has been taken to only admit shoppers into Primark from its High Street West entrance, as the door into the centre is a busy area where people have wait to get into the two supermarkets.

Sharon Appleby, Head of Business Operations at Sunderland BID, echoed Duncan’s words.

“Shoppers should now have seen all of the signage across the city centre which are just gentle reminders about maintaining social distancing,” she said.

“We’re also delighted that people have behaved responsibly and have turned out to support local businesses, which we hope will continue.”