Burnley shoppers urged to #supportlocal as town begins to reopen for business

And the Burnley Express has launched a special campaign urging residents to support local traders as they emerge from the lockdown restrictions

Our #supportlocal campaign is designed to highlight the variety, depth and quality of our retailers and give them a helping hand to bounce back from the enforced closures.

Charter Walk is home to more than 80 stores and from Monday bosses will be implementing a number of measures to ensure shoppers' safety, including manned entrances to the centre, social distancing signs and markers, and hand sanitisers.

Burnley market is also looking to get back to relatively normal trading conditions.

Sharp’s Butchers, J & A Fruit and Haffner’s are three businesses that have reopened recently while Wok This Way and Kerpow back open and selling cooked food through a takeaway service.

From Monday, June 15th, other non-food stalls will reopen, except for those who provide beauty services who will reopen when government guidance changes.

Burnley Market will be open for shoppers between 9am and 4pm every day except Tuesdays and Sundays.

Debbie Hernon, Charter Walk Shopping Centre manager, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming more shoppers back to the centre and it is the priority of our team to make sure everyone feels safe.

"We are conscious that many people may feel wary about heading back to the town centre with lockdown restrictions eased, but we want to reassure shoppers that a great deal of steps and planning has been undertaken to make the experience as safe and comfortable as possible.

“We ask that people follow the signs and markers in place and be patient and kind to one another and our businesses during this time.

“We would like to remind people to also maintain good personal hygiene, by using tissues and the bins provided, as well as the hand sanitiser provided at the entrances and around the centre.

“Of course, we also ask people to support Burnley town centre during this time, to shop local with us where possible and to make sure they approach one of our friendly and fully-trained team members should they require assistance.”

As well as Burnley town centre, non-essential traders across the borough from Padiham town centre to Briercliffe will be opening their doors in accordance with social-distancing measures.

Our area is blessed with a huge variety of small, independent, locally-owned businesses who will be more reliant than ever on our support.

Life may still be a long way from being back to normal, but the re-opening of non-essential businesses will add another bit of badly-needed normality to the lives of residents across the Burnley borough.