Businesses across Croydon – including pubs, restaurants and hairdressers – are preparing to welcome back customers from tomorrow (Saturday) for the first time since March with the council providing advice and support to help them reopen as safely as possible.
The council has provided more than 7,000 local businesses with essential advice including how to carry out risk assessments, apply for temporary permits to put tables and chairs on the streets, and other industry-specific guidance for hotels, heritage sites and more.
From Saturday 4 July restaurants, pubs, places of worship, community centres, outdoor playgrounds and gyms, hairdressers and barbers, cinemas and more businesses will be able to welcome customers.
Croydon’s businesses have also been given guidance on collecting information from customers to support the government’s Test and Trace programme, so that they can help the community to stay safe in a way that complies with data-protection laws.
The council’s food and neighbourhood safety officers will be on hand to support businesses and customers by checking social distancing measures are in place as well as their usual work to keep residents and businesses safe.
Croydon has already put in place new social distancing measures in town and district centres, so that people can visit them as safely and confidently as possible. And new schemes from Streetspaces to cycle lanes are making it easier for people to walk and cycle around the borough, without using public transport or private cars.
“Throughout this pandemic, Croydon’s local businesses have gone all out to support their community – from providing free meals to NHS workers, to teaming up with foodbanks to help those in need, or even simply finding new ways to serve our community in incredibly challenging circumstances.
“As a council, we have distributed thousands of grants to help our businesses stay resilient while providing vital advice and support during their closure, and this continues as they prepare to reopen for the first time in months.
“It is essential that we all do our bit to support them by following the social guidance and any new measures they have put in place to keep themselves and their customers as safe as possible. Croydon’s community has supported each other throughout this pandemic, and this remains more important than ever as we begin to slowly and carefully unlock our high streets.”
Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed, cabinet member for economy and jobs
