Shropshire shopping centres bosses eager ahead of Monday return
Shropshire's major shopping centres are looking forward to welcoming people back on Monday, and bosses have moved to reassure the public over safety measures.
In Shrewsbury, the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside shopping centres will all fully reopen. A new F.Hinds jewellery store is opening in the Darwin Centre.
Only Wilko, Clarks, The Entertainer and Vision Express will remain open in the Pride Hill Centre, with lower levels including the toilets closed to the public.
Workers have been stripping out shop fronts and installing hoardings to tell people about the future development. It is expected that the centre's lower levels will become offices and the new Shropshire Council HQ, while the top level will be a leisure facility, possibly including a cinema.
Shrewsbury shopping centres manager Kevin Lockwood said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming customers and many of our retailers back to the centres.
"However, the health and safety of our tenants and customers will always be our top priority.
“We are continuing with our enhanced cleaning routines, focusing on major touch points in communal areas. Stores are also enhancing their own cleaning routines, following Government guidelines.
“The queue guides outside of stores will be in use to manage footfall within the individual units.
“At every entrance the ‘welcome back’ messages remain, along with reminders throughout the centre. We will also have recorded messages playing on the centre’s PA systems reminding visitors of safe shopping guidance.
Telford Centre will also be opening, and centre manager Glynn Morrow said: "We really looking forward to fully opening our doors. I think we are all looking forward to getting out and about and we are confident we will be firmly on their list of places to visit.
"Everyone is focused on celebrating those moments we have all missed and we are perfectly placed to ensure we can give everyone just what they are looking for from wedding gifts to wedding outfits as people begin to again celebrate in style”
