THE Brooks Shopping Centre is re-opening on Monday following an easing of lockdown, but a number of measures have been put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Centre bosses have revealed the measures they will be putting in place to make sure their customers and staff are safe.

A one-way system, limiting the number of customers, hand sanitiser and closure of toilets are among the measures that can be expected.

Social distancing measures:

The centre has installed clear signage and barriers, to help visitors maintain a two-metre distance between themselves and others whilst visiting the centre.

For customer safety, there will be a one-way system put in place to help social distancing. Customers will now enter the centre near Primark on Middlebrook Street and exit via the ramp near New Look on lower level shopping. The same entrance and exit strategy will be used on upper shopping.

An external queue will be in place at peak times and to keep things moving quickly, the centre is asking to do their shopping and leave the centre as soon as possible.

If a family with two parents and children visit the centre, only one adult will be permitted entry. However, a single parent, who has no one to look after their children, will be allowed to shop with their children, but the children must not be left wandering on their own.

Personal protection for customers and employees:

The centre is not enforcing face masks, but if advice changes then this could be altered.

Hand sanitising stations will available in the centre, with management saying that it is not good practice to “wear gloves all the time as this contributes to spreading germs on everything you touch”.

All centre staff will be given personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe.

Shopping centre lifts:

Lifts in the centre are undergoing a full refurbishment and are currently not in operation. Customers are advised to use the ramps in and out of the centre to access various floors in line with the one-way system and social distancing.

For access to the car park levels customers can use the disabled lift located opposite Iceland on Middlebrook Street.

The centre has said that the lift refurbishment is essential to ensuring the lifts remain operational and that we provide the highest possible standard of service to all customers.

Toilets within the centre:

Whilst there is a risk of the virus spreading, the centre has been advised to reduce access to a number of public facilities, including the toilets. To reduce the risk of the virus spreading in these areas, they will remain closed until further notice.

Management at The Brooks Shopping Centre has said: “We look forward to welcoming our visitors and retailers back as they gradually reopen to serve the community. We understand the importance of getting these new safety measures right, not only to ensure everyone coming into our centre is safe, but to ensure customers health and wellbeing is being considered at every point.

"Our centre teams have been working extremely hard and we are immensely grateful to them, but we know we cannot do this alone and everyone who visits our centre will play a part in keeping themselves and others safe by following the official guidelines, instructions and information provided by our teams. We’re making every effort to protect our colleagues and customers, and while safety is paramount."

For more information, go to https://brooks-shopping.co.uk/covid-19/