Gunwharf Quays and Meridian Centre reveal extra safety measures taken to reopen

Gunwharf Quays, in Portsmouth, and the Meridian Shopping Centre, Havant, are introducing a raft of measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 as the shopping centres look to reopen non-essential stores on June 15.

Safety measures at Gunwharf Quays will include ‘no-stopping zones’ and a one-way system to ensure social distancing can be maintained, as well as signs and floor stickers to help people keep a safe distance apart.

Shoppers may face a queue to enter, and those visiting by car will find reduced parking capacity – with parking only available in the underground car park to stop the centre from becoming overcrowded.

Enhanced cleaning procedures will be in place across the shopping complex, according to Colin Wilding, senior centre director.

He said: ‘As well as the thorough cleaning of the centre, we will be using floor stickers and signs to remind guests to keep the required distance apart, will be providing hand sanitiser for guests and staff to use at a number of points throughout the centre, and our security and concierge teams will be available to help manage queuing.’

Both Gunwharf Quays and the Meridian Shopping Centre will provide its staff with PPE.

The shopping centre in Havant will also have stickers and signs in place to help shoppers stick to social distancing guidance, as well as operating a queuing system with one shopper allowed to enter at a time.

Eating, congregating, and socialising within the centre are to be prohibited.

Rob Fryer, Centre Manager, said: ‘We understand that people will be cautious about returning to any public locations, and rightfully so – this pandemic has had a huge impact on our community.

‘So, we know the importance of getting these measures right, not only to ensure everyone coming into our centre is safe, but that they also feel confident that their health and wellbeing is continuously being considered which is why we have implemented robust plans to ensure the safety of our visitors when the centre reopens.’

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