Peterborough City Council has been working with stores across the city who will be desperate to get back on their feet as they begin to reopen from Monday, as the effects of 12 weeks of closure are felt.

They will be instructed to complete the recommended Government Covid-19 risk assessment - which could lead to one-way systems, closed changing rooms, counter screens and a raft of new measures to ensure the safety of both staff and customers.

Below is what Peterborough City Council, in consultation with retailers from across the city, has implemented:

  • Social distancing measures will be in place

    - Social distancing of two metres will be promoted, with clear

    signage

    and volunteer marshals from the city’s Covid-19 coordination hub on hand to guide and instruct from a distance for the first seven working days.
  • Shop local

    - To limit your interaction with others it is recommended that you shop at stores that are local to you. This will also help businesses which employ city residents and benefit our local economy to bounce back following Covid-19.
  • Check opening times

    - Not all shops will be open and some are operating under new staggered opening times. Either call the shop or check online before travelling into the city centre to avoid disappointment and a wasted trip.
  • Avoid peak times

    - All stores will have a maximum number of customers they can allow in their store and a limited space for queuing. You may be asked to return later if it is busy. To try and avoid this residents are asked to plan their journeys away from peak times of 11am to 2pm.
  • Toilet facilities

    - Be aware there are reduced toilet facilities in the city centre at this time. The bus station toilets will be closed. The toilets in

    Queensgate

    on Level 1 will be fully operational including baby changing, ladies/gents and disabled with increased cleaning. The Car Haven toilets will be fully open from Mon-Fri (8am-5pm) and Sat/Sun (10am-4pm), including ladies/gents, disabled and a specially adapted changing places facility.
  • Parking

    - Council-owned car parks will continue to be free of charge until July 13.
  • Practice good hand hygiene

    - Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds and use hand

    sanitiser

    gel if soap and water are not available. Read further information.
  • Walk or cycle short distances

    - It’s easier and safer to walk or cycle short distances, rather than relying on public transport. To help you do this, the council is introducing pop-up cycle lanes, wider pavements, more bicycle storage and are investigating non-touch traffic crossings in the city centre.
  • If travelling by bus, check times before you leave and wear a face covering

    - Operators are still running a reduced service. Check for the latest bus timetables on the Travelchoice website before you travel. Also, from 15 June, new Government legislation has made it compulsory to wear a face covering on public transport. Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of three or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly. For example, primary age children unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions.
  • Do not attend if you or your household are suffering from Covid-19 symptoms

    - if you or anyone in your home have related symptoms or are suffering from Covid-19 you must not leave your home.
  • Covid-19 Risk Assessments

    - All shops and public areas have been asked to complete the Government’s Covid-19 risk assessment and to display this in their windows. This includes measures such as one-way systems, closed changing rooms, counter screens and a raft of new measures to ensure the safety of both staff and customers. The council’s regulatory services team will be monitoring this over the coming weeks. Further information is available online.
  • Enhanced street cleaning

    - Aragon Direct Services will begin a regular hot wash of the city centre and a daily cleanse of all benches, bins and other high touch points.
  • St Peter’s Arcade will be closed

    - Following a Covid-19 risk assessment, the railings and limited space available in accessing the arcade from St Peter’s Road has led to a decision to temporarily close the arcade. This will also allow the Argo Lounge to expand into the arcade and onto the Bridge Street.
  • City Market

    - Following a Covid-19 risk assessment, a limited number of stalls in the market will be able to open. The council is looking at options to move others outdoors to allow social distancing.
  • Highway changes to allow more people to walk and cycle into the city (all of the following are temporary changes in line with Covid-19):

    • Cowgate

      - From 15 June, parking bays suspended to allow more room for pedestrians and businesses.
    • Broadway

      - From 15 June, the parking bays near

      Westgate

      will be suspended to allow more room for pedestrians and cyclists. Upper Broadway (

      Northminster

      to

      Burghley

      Square) will have parking bays suspended and pop-up cycle lanes installed within eight weeks.
    • Cattle Market Road

      - From 15 June, parking bays suspended to allow more room for pedestrians.
    • City Road

      - Within eight weeks, a pop-up cycle lane will be installed between St Johns and

      Northminster

      (westbound only).
    • Crescent Bridge

      - Within eight weeks, the east bound lane will be removed to install a pop-up cycle lane.
    • Cross Street and King Street

      - Looking at options to close these roads to through traffic.
    • Priestgate and Wentworth Street

      - Within eight weeks, these roads will become one-way with parking bays suspended.
  • Buses

    • The main bus station in

      Queensgate

      will be open with a one-way system in place, calling for people to keep left and other social distancing measures, including reduced seating and a limit on people using the lift at the same time. Toilets will remain closed at the moment.
    • The temporary bus station at

      Ackland

      Street which is open-air will remain open.
  • Parking

    - Council-owned car parks will continue to be free of charge until July 13.
  • Cafes, bars and restaurants

    - When the Government relaxes its social distancing guidelines next month, the council expects cafes, bars and restaurants to begin re-opening. To help with this, it is working with these businesses to create more outdoor space, creating an open-air

    café

    style culture.