High street relief as restrictions lifted but many businesses and attractions left in limbo

Wakefield Council, businesses and the district’s civic societies have warned that big challenges are lay ahead and town centres will work very differently for the foreseeable future.

Forty-five per cent of people who responded to our lockdown survey said they were looking forward to going shopping again.

A further 61 per cent said they were looking forward to going to bars and restaurants, and 52 per cent said they were looking forward to going to the barber or hairdresser.

But 75 per cent of people who responded said measures should be lifted slowly.

Seventeen per cent said high priority should be given to reopening high street shops and restaurants, 48 per cent said they should be a medium priority, and 34 per cent said low priority.

But questions remain over how a socially distanced high street would work in practice.

Wakefield Civic Society president Kevin Trickett welcomed the move but said it would have to work safely.

He said: “Yes, it will be good for people to be able to get out and about again, but we must not jeopardise people’s health and safety, otherwise the last two months will have been for nothing. Too many people have suffered, and died, because of this awful virus. Let’s not forget that as we slowly start to ease back into something approaching normal.”

He said there were still businesses and organisations waiting patiently for their turn.

He said: “Of course, opening shops is only part of the story. Many of the businesses in the catering and hospitality trade, such as hotels, bars and restaurants, will remain closed for now. Similarly our cultural venues such as galleries, cinemas and theatres are some way off returning to ‘business as usual’.

“We have great sympathy for those businesses that can for now only look at the calendar and wonder when they too will be able to resume operation, but we have to adopt a safety-first approach and we urge the government to continue offering financial support wherever it is needed.

“These businesses and cultural organisations have helped to make our town and city centres great places in which to relax and to enjoy life with our families and friends.

“In the fullness of time, we need them to bounce back, to resume where they left off, and to bring back joyfulness and richness to our lives.”