Town centres will be looking a lot more normal from Monday as people are encouraged to head out shopping again.
After more than two months of lockdown, North West Leicestershire District Council will be welcoming back shoppers and trying to get Coalville and Ashby town centres moving again.
The council wants to be ready for all shops to re-open by Monday, June 15, and it is hoped free parking will help attract people to spend their money.
To keep people apart there will be various floor markings, signs and barriers, while all the shops and businesses in the two towns are also being given a guide to help them safely welcome back shoppers.
Council leader Richard Blunt said: “Revitalising the local economy in North West Leicestershire and bringing people back into safe town centres is an essential part of our recovery.
“We’ve been supporting businesses throughout this pandemic, with £18 million of grants distributed so far, but now it’s time to prepare for a return to a new normality where customers can be welcomed back safely.
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“Our preparations are robust and balance the need for a safe environment with a system that is still welcoming to shoppers wanting to support local businesses.
“These businesses need us all now more than ever as we look to rebuild and ensure long-term prosperity for our entire district.”
However, the council has said its preparation work was not intended as an instruction to shops that they should re-open straight away.
While all on-street parking enforcement will resume from Monday, June 1, car park charges in both town centres will remain suspended and the council’s current plan is to start charging again on July 1.
The owners of the Belvoir Centre, who recently took over three of the car parks in Coalville, also still have free parking in place.
Council car parks will remain free for NHS staff beyond July 1 and the district council will be providing the free parking via www.nhs-freeparking.co.uk.
Coalville Market will be re-opening from Monday, June 15, with social distancing measures in place.
From the same date, public toilets in Coalville and Ashby town centres will also be re-opened Monday to Saturday with charges removed.
Councillor John Coxon, leader of Ashby de la Zouch Town Council, said: “The re-opening of the town centre is an important part of the plan to get people back to work.
“Inevitably there will have to be some changes in the way that we go about our daily life in and around Market Street, at least in the short-term.
“It’s absolutely vital to the long-term future of Ashby that we support the business community in whatever we can.
“Let’s hope that this is the first step in reinvigorating our town and getting back to ‘normal’, however that may look in the future.”
