Queues form outside shops across the region as high streets reopen

Queues formed this morning outside the Primark store in Brighton Credit: ITV Meridian

Queues formed at stores across the south this morning as thousands of non-essential shops pulled up their shutters for the first time since lockdown began in March.

Customers are being encouraged to go out and spend but to "be sensible" in their approach, as the Government seeks to begin reopening the economy "gradually and carefully".

Dozens of people queue outside the Primark store in Southampton Credit: ITV Meridian

Long lines were seen at Primark stores across the country, with dozens of keen shoppers waiting outside branches of the budget clothes store including in Brighton, Reading, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Small business minister Paul Scully insisted it is safe to shop, noting the new looks many stores will have as they attempt to ensure social distancing and good hygiene among staff and customers.

The reopening comes as a survey suggested less than half of people feelcomfortable returning to clothes shops.

Results of YouGov polling carried out earlier this month suggested just 40% of people were comfortable to go back into such stores, and only 48% think they would be able to stay the required two metres away from other shoppers.

In a YouGov poll less than half of people surveyed think they will be able to stay the required 2 metre distance from other shoppers Credit: ITV Meridian
Queues form in Broad Street in Reading town centre Credit: ITV Meridian

In Reading, the borough council, Reading UK and Thames Valley Police are all keen to welcome people back into the town centre, and are asking residents to help make it a success by paying special attention to changes introduced to help with social distancing guidelines, which remain in place at this time.

Shoppers queue for stores in Reading's Oracle shopping centre Credit: ITV Meridian

At the Oracle shopping centre social distancing measures have been put in place. The General Manager, Andy Briggs told ITV Meridian he was surprised how many people were shopping in the centre on Monday morning.

  • Andy Briggs, General Manager, The Oracle

A package of new measures is being introduced to help visitors access and navigate Reading town centre easily and safely, whilst respecting social distancing.

These include:

  • A number of pedestrian one-way systems, including on Union Street, Oxford Road by Broad Street Mall, Station Road and the station subway

  • Barriers to direct pedestrians at pinch points, especially busy bus stops

  • Painted lines in public areas to help shoppers with maintaining social distancing

  • Relevant signage is being put in place across the town centre, reminding people of social distancing restrictions and asking them to remain vigilant and respectful of all shop staff and other visitors to the town centre.

A one-way system in Above Bar Street in Southampton Credit: ITV Meridian

With official figures showing the economy shrank by a fifth in April, ministers are desperate to get businesses going again to stave off another wave of job losses.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak - who is reported to be considering a VAT cut to stimulate spending - acknowledged further redundancies were inevitable as the Government's furlough scheme begins to unwind.

Ministers are under intense pressure from Conservative MPs to go further by easing the two-metre social distancing rule so the hard-pressed hospitality sector can also reopen.

  • Entertaining the crowds queuing in Southampton city centre