Date:
Woking town centre, shopping centres, villages and neighbourhoods across the borough have welcomed back visitors and shoppers today (Monday 12 April 2021).
People can now visit non-essential retailers, personal care businesses and hospitality venues, providing they can meet COVID-19 safety and security guidelines. Whilst licensed premises are open for outside eating and drinking.
Pool in the Park, Woking Leisure Centre and Sportsbox have also reopened their doors to most activities including gym, swimming, racket sports and children’s swimming lessons, in line with government guidelines.
Most venues are now required to ask every customer or visitor to scan the NHS QR code using their NHS COVID-19 app, or provide their name and contact details, not just a lead member of the group.
Measures in place at Peacocks and Wolsey Place shopping centres and Market Walk, include organised socially distanced queues supported by floor stickers and signposting, one way systems, hand sanitiser at entry and exit points and new instructional signage reminding visitors of the safety precautions they must continue to take.
An enhanced cleaning regime has been in place since the beginning of the pandemic crisis and includes nightly disinfecting of all areas to remove any bacteria and viruses from all surfaces, contact areas and touch points.
Technology is also in place in the shopping centres to monitor visitor numbers and ensure that the spaces are not over capacity.
In the wider town centre, a daily deep cleaning regime is already under way, with street furniture cleansed every morning and sprayed throughout the day with an anti-bacterial spray. This supports a programme already enacted to cleanse all hard surfaces.
Public spaces in Woking town centre will also have the welcome presence of a team of COVID-19 marshals to help ensure that social distancing, face covering and hand-washing guidelines are followed, provide assistance to businesses and offering advice on staying safe.
All measures will be revised and amended accordingly with additional phases introduced in due course where necessary.
As restrictions ease, it is crucial that we remain cautious and all continue to play our part in stopping the spread of the virus. We must continue to adhere to the restrictions that remain in place, wear face coverings and socially distance where necessary.