Basingstoke MP Maria Miller visited local shops in Basingstoke as they reopened after the lockdown restrictions. Maria Met with Jane Stewart CEO of Basingstoke Together and Cllr Simon Bound Deputy Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and visited local businesses; Basingstoke Service Centre and Nicola Florist. Maria then visited Festival Place to see the safety measures put in place to keep customers and shop workers  safe.

Maria Commented; “ Festival Place and The Malls are back in business and it was good to see many hundreds of shoppers out in town. Basingstoke Together Business Improvement District, Basingstoke Council and Festival Place have worked hard on the reopening of our town centre, putting safety first.”

“The Council was given £150,000 by government to introduce measures to keep shoppers safe. It was good to see a number of measures in place such as walking on the left hand side of walkways in the town centre area, an increased cleaning schedule of public areas and extensive signage reminding shoppers what they need to do. I understand the council is also working with partners to provide hand sanitising stations at the Top of the Town and in council-owned car parks.”

Jane Stewart CEO of Basingstoke Together commented; ‘The Government Guidelines for the re-opening of non-essential retail were very helpful.  Visitors need to understand that the Guidelines then have to be applied at a local level for every shopping centre and each individual business.’

Cllr Simon Bound commented; “ Everyone has worked hard to keep visitors to our reopened town centre safe.  The new instructions are clear and simple to follow and this allows everyone to enjoy what Basingstoke has to offer.”