Thurrock Council reminds businesses of new opening rules for shops

Thurrock Council is reminding shops and hospitality businesses in the borough of the importance of closing their premises to comply with government rules on social distancing.

Under new rules all non-essential businesses open to the public must close. This includes:

• Pubs, cinemas and theatres.
• All retail stores selling non-essential goods – this includes clothing and electronics stores; hair, beauty and nail salons; and outdoor and indoor markets, excluding food markets.
• Libraries, community centres, and youth centres.
• Indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, arcades and soft play facilities.
• Communal places within parks, such as playgrounds, sports co
• Hotels, hostels, bed and breakfasts, campsites, caravan parks, and boarding houses for commercial/leisure use, excluding permanent residents, key workers and those providing emergency accommodation, for example for the homeless.

The only shops which are allowed to stay open under the current rules are:

• Supermarkets and other food shops
• Health shops
• Food delivery and takeaways providing no food is consumed on the premises
• Medical services (such as dental surgeries, opticians and audiology clinics, physiotherapy clinics, chiropody and podiatry clinics, and other professional vocational medical services)
• Pharmacies and chemists
• Petrol stations
• Bicycle shops
• Hardware shops
• Veterinary surgeries and pet shops
• Corner shops and newsagents
• Off-licenses and licensed shops selling alcohol, including those within breweries
• Laundrettes and dry cleaners
• All Post Offices
• Car parks in towns, cities and near to takeaways may remain open, to facilitate essential activity (e.g. where they are supporting hospitals, supermarkets or takeaways)
• High street banks, building societies, short-term loan providers, credit unions and cash points
• Storage and distribution facilities, including delivery drop off points
• Public toilets

Shops that are allowed to remain open should follow the social distancing advice.

The full government guidance can be found here: gov.uk/government/publications/further-businesses-and-premises-to-close

Thurrock Council Leader, Cllr Rob Gledhill said:

“We as a country are facing the greatest challenge of our time and it is vital that businesses and residents in Thurrock play their part in doing everything they can to slow the spread of coronavirus.

“We have closed council managed buildings including libraries, children’s centres and the Thameside Theatre. We have also closed all play areas and outside exercise areas in our parks.

“We will continue working with all of our partners to ensure that we are doing all we can to encourage and enforce the national social distancing measures which have been introduced and making sure that all shops which should be closed are.”