This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-53516633
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: Reopening shops during Leicester lockdown 'pointless' | Coronavirus: Reopening shops during Leicester lockdown 'pointless' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Reopening non-essential stores in Leicester's lockdown zone is "pointless" and "confusing", some shop owners have said. | Reopening non-essential stores in Leicester's lockdown zone is "pointless" and "confusing", some shop owners have said. |
| From 24 July such businesses can open their doors again after more than three weeks of local lockdown. | From 24 July such businesses can open their doors again after more than three weeks of local lockdown. |
| However, the government has said all but essential travel in to, out of and within the city is still not allowed. | However, the government has said all but essential travel in to, out of and within the city is still not allowed. |
| It has confirmed this means people should not leave their homes just to visit the reopened stores. | It has confirmed this means people should not leave their homes just to visit the reopened stores. |
| The local lockdown, introduced after spike in coronavirus cases, remains in place in Leicester until 1 August. | |
| 'Apprehensive' | 'Apprehensive' |
| "It's so confusing," said Arinder Bhullar, who runs a bridal shop on the Golden Mile. "Are we in lockdown, or are we not?" | "It's so confusing," said Arinder Bhullar, who runs a bridal shop on the Golden Mile. "Are we in lockdown, or are we not?" |
| She said she had decided to open tomorrow for the first time since March, as she wanted to take the opportunity to keep the business going. | She said she had decided to open tomorrow for the first time since March, as she wanted to take the opportunity to keep the business going. |
| However, she said she worries it may be "pointless" as many of her customers are from outside the city and would not be allowed to enter except for essential travel. | However, she said she worries it may be "pointless" as many of her customers are from outside the city and would not be allowed to enter except for essential travel. |
| "I'm a little apprehensive, we don't know if people will actually come," she said. | "I'm a little apprehensive, we don't know if people will actually come," she said. |
| "We're going to give it a couple of days and see how it goes. | "We're going to give it a couple of days and see how it goes. |
| "We need solid information from the government. People do not know where they stand." | "We need solid information from the government. People do not know where they stand." |
| Across the city Drew Harriman, owner of furniture and homeware store Harriman and Co, has decided to stay shut. | Across the city Drew Harriman, owner of furniture and homeware store Harriman and Co, has decided to stay shut. |
| He said the situation was "absolutely ridiculous", and reminded him of when the government told people to stay away from pubs but did not tell them to close. | He said the situation was "absolutely ridiculous", and reminded him of when the government told people to stay away from pubs but did not tell them to close. |
| "What's the point of opening a store that is not essential in the middle of a lockdown?" he asked. | "What's the point of opening a store that is not essential in the middle of a lockdown?" he asked. |
| "This will confuse people. The government are playing games with businesses and livelihoods." | "This will confuse people. The government are playing games with businesses and livelihoods." |
| According to the Federation of Small Businesses in the East Midlands, which represents about 500 shops in the city, the reaction of its members has been "mixed". | According to the Federation of Small Businesses in the East Midlands, which represents about 500 shops in the city, the reaction of its members has been "mixed". |
| Jennifer Thomas from the organisation, said: "Some can't wait to get get going. But some are asking if it's worth it? Why reopen if no-one is actually allowed out? It's a very tough decision, there's an expense to reopening." | Jennifer Thomas from the organisation, said: "Some can't wait to get get going. But some are asking if it's worth it? Why reopen if no-one is actually allowed out? It's a very tough decision, there's an expense to reopening." |
| Leicester City Council has said it will be "monitoring the situation very carefully" to make sure staff and customers are safe. | Leicester City Council has said it will be "monitoring the situation very carefully" to make sure staff and customers are safe. |
| Leicestershire Police reminded residents about the restrictions on travel and appealed for them to use "common sense". | Leicestershire Police reminded residents about the restrictions on travel and appealed for them to use "common sense". |
| A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said non-essential shops were being allowed to reopen because the infection rate in the city was going down. | A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said non-essential shops were being allowed to reopen because the infection rate in the city was going down. |
| But the guidance "remains to stay at home as far as possible". | But the guidance "remains to stay at home as far as possible". |
| He added: "People should not travel solely for non-essential shopping." | He added: "People should not travel solely for non-essential shopping." |
| Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk. |