The Bridges welcomes 22,000 shoppers on first day Sunderland stores reopen following lockdown

The Bridges has confirmed that a total of 22,000 people visited the popular city centre shopping centre on Monday, June 15, as they looked to experience a bit of normality following months of strict measures.

The non-essential stores have been closed since March as part of the Government’s coronavirus lockdown, which aimed to curb the spread of the virus.

Since then The Bridges and other shops in the city centre have put measures in place aimed at keeping people safe as they reopen.

The social distancing measures include a one-way system throughout The Bridges, with entrances marked up with entrance and exit signs, while notices have been put up to remind people to keep their 2-metre distance from others and stick to the right route.

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

Sanitisation stations will also be 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.

And on the first day of opening, huge queues formed outside of Primark and Sports Direct from as early as 6.30am as hundreds waited for the chance to browse its rails again.

A spokeswoman for The Bridges has confirmed that the 22,000 shoppers who visited the centre on Monday, June 15, is an increase of 122% compared to Monday, June 8, and an increase of 108% compared to Monday, June 1.

Compared to the same period of May, Monday’s footfall increased by 200%.

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