Arun’s high streets begin to spring back to life as shoppers return

Since June 15, when many retailers were able to reopen again, Arun has seen residents visiting high streets, village centres and shopping parades, the district council said.

Community Information Officers have been on hand in Littlehampton and Bognor Regis High Streets to office advice, support and signposting.

Retailers have worked hard to ensure that the safety of their customers and staff come first and have put in place measures to keep Covid-secure standards, a council spokesman said.

In Littlehampton, the general Friday Market returned on Friday 19 June in St Martin’s car park.

The Artisan Market will return on Saturday 1 August in Manor House car park.

Councillor Dr James Walsh, Leader of Arun District Council and Cabinet Member for Economy said: “We were delighted to see the public return to retail last week in a controlled and sensible manner.

“Showing respect and kindness for shop staff and fellow shoppers is a key factor in ensuring that social distancing can be observed and that queues are kept to a sensible size.

“Supporting our local shops and business is vital to provide our local economy with the boost that it needs and we’re doing all we can to help retailers to put in place the changes needed to make their businesses safe for shoppers and staff.

“I would like to say thank you to all those who are ‘shopping local’ and for their continued compliance with the government social distancing requirements, and also offer a reminder that Government advice is to stay at home as much as possible and to only make essential journeys.

“We know that the rules are changing on a weekly basis, but the advice to ‘Stay Safe’ remains the same.”

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