Cheshire East Council announce plans to allow high streets to reopen safely

Cheshire East Council has announced its plans to introduce a range of measures protecting businesses and people as high streets across the region begin to reopen.

Following the easing of restrictions on non-essential retailers that will see high street shops allowed to reopen from 15th June, 16 towns and villages in Cheshire East will see measures introduces to allow high streets to reopen safely. Temporary measures to be introduced include:

• Social distancing awareness signs at bus and rail stations and at bus stops;
• Signs and pavement markings, to raise awareness of the need to social distance;
• Localised temporary road closures in town centres, where there is expected to be high footfall and extra space is needed for pedestrians and socially distanced queuing at shops;
• Increased pedestrian or cycle access in some town centres, through adjustments to traffic restrictions;
• Temporary closure of a small number of town centre car parks, where access to these compromises the space available for social distancing; and
• Temporary suspension of some parking spaces and laybys, where these can provide extra space for widening footpaths to help pedestrians respect social distancing rules.

Local retail sees spending rise during Covid-19 crisis, Deloitte reveals

The measures will be installed by 15th June and have been informed by local ward members and town and parish councils, and remain under constant review to meet local circumstances.

Councillor Laura Crane, Cheshire East cabinet member for highways, said:

As we begin to move beyond lockdown, we must consider how best to open up our high streets. Our priority here is to protect people and our local businesses.

“Alongside any measures, we will be supporting businesses with additional information and guidance, while encouraging high street users to adhere to the government’s social distancing restrictions. 

“The government is providing funding to local authorities and has issued guidance on how we can help people maintain safe social distancing in busy public areas, which we are following.

“Some of our measures support walking and cycling in our town centres – which many people have enjoyed much more of during the lockdown – and this also is good for our environment and people’s health and wellbeing. Further temporary and experimental measures are being considered to support walking and cycling and will be implemented once we have put in the arrangements for our high streets. 

“Each of the 16 high streets identified in Cheshire East has been considered individually and measures tailored to local circumstances.  Local ward members and town and parish councils have been asked for input into the plans and, where this has been received, we have taken close account of these suggestions.

“While these temporary arrangements may disrupt the travel patterns of some residents and visitors, they are necessary to protect everyone, especially those who will be using the shops when the government allows them to open – which at this point is intended to be 15 June.

“We are being careful to implement the government’s measures alongside avoiding unnecessary disruption. The works completed by 15 June are an important first step and these measures will be closely monitored and adjusted as necessary.”