Fareham high street business owners optimistic as non-essential shops reopen

More than a dozen independent shops – selling everything from flowers to records – reopened along Fareham’s West Street, with market day in the town centre attracting crowds of people.

Warsash couple Roger and Pam Williams, who have run the Willows Furniture Emporium since 2002, were ‘thrilled’ to welcome back customers – but said that shoppers remained alert to the dangers of Covid-19.

Pam said: ‘People have come in covering their faces with their clothes.’

And the couple had ‘no idea’ what to expect in terms of footfall according to Roger: ‘We have had two customers this morning.

‘Across a good day, we’d have 100.

‘But you can never tell.’

In Fareham Shopping Centre, shoppers found staff greeting them at the entrances and floor sticker to guide them around the centres new one-way pedestrian system to keep visitors socially distanced.

Despite the crowds in the town centre and shop’s strict adherence to social distancing, one customer was surprised by the lack of queues.

Gosport resident Pam Bound, visiting Fareham Shopping Centre, said: ‘I was expecting more queues.

‘There’s not a lot here – but it’s important to come out and support the local shops, otherwise they just go.

‘People should support them.’

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