Shops reopen in Falmouth as lockdown eases

There was certainly a different feel as social distancing means changes like hand sanitisers dotted around the town will be the norm for some time to come.

The continued easing of lockdown restrictions on Monday meant that retailers that had been closed since March could finally reopen their doors, as long as they signed up to a strict set of rules.

The Falmouth Town Team – a partnership between Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) and Falmouth Town Council – has showcased its Positive Engagement Plan with Cornwall Council, BIDs across the south west and other regional organisations, and has put together toolkits to help businesses get back on their feet.

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Measures range from branded hand sanitisers installed throughout the town to a new ‘Falmouth, Spirit of the Sea’ rainbow logo to liveried posters, window decals and signs at locations throughout town that aim to guide shoppers on social distancing.

Starting now, the next six weeks will see pedestrian-friendly streets and traffic control measures to help enable safe distancing guidelines to be adhered to, alongside other measures that include branded promotional literature and a focus on hygiene and cleanliness throughout the town, with volunteer clean teams engaged in the effort.

Hand sanitiser stations have been installed around town

Following on will be medium term plans, which include digital business upskilling programmes and further public space alterations, while longer term goals involve new events, e-travel and partner-led community health and wellbeing schemes.

Richard Wilcox, Falmouth BID manager, said: “The strength of community spirit, innovation and collaboration is very strong in Falmouth and as a Town Team we wanted to capitalise on this with our proactive recovery planning framework.

"Businesses and residents have faced up to the Covid challenge with great resolve, wanted to work alongside us and we have supported their proactive ideas and schemes.

"We have also been asked to play a regional leadership role, helping support many other towns and areas to open safely and confidently over the next few weeks, doing what we can to ensure our communities can thrive.”

The Falmouth Town Team will be installing more signage, promotional literature and dressing over the next two weeks.

Falmouth earlier today

Hannah Pearce, owner of the un_rap shop in Webber Hill, said: "People have been very understanding and positive and eager to still support small local businesses.

"People are aware of the rules and understand if they come into a shop they need to learn what's happening rather than just coming in.

"Now that we're coming out of the pandemic and other shops are opening I'm seeing good promotion from the council and also a good positive reaction from the community as well."

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The Mayor of Falmouth, Councillor Steve Eva, has been handing out free, branded safe distance stickers to businesses, volunteer teams are undertaking litter picks and regeneration work, information adverts are being installed at bus shelter sites, while Falmouth-logoed sanitiser stations are being topped up.

Neil Chadwick, owner of Seasalt, said: "It hasn't been the easiest time, but top in our mind all the time was customer safety and employee safety.

"It really feels like the town has pulled together and we've shared that, not just between ourselves, but with people in the much wider community and it's been great."

Some roads have been closed to make social distancing easier for shoppers

Further community-led efforts are planned to support its residents and future visitors.

Furthermore, the Positive Engagement Plan is being used as a recovery template for other towns across the region.

Projects within the plan are framed within six key focus areas – business engagement, community engagement, public realm, creative, online and branding and communications.

These six areas are then assigned into immediate, medium and long-term priorities.