In advance of more shops reopening on Monday (15 June), Carlisle City Council is advising visitors to the city centre to shop safely and plan ahead.
From Monday 15 June, non-essential stores in England will be able to reopen.
Carlisle City Council is working with Cumbria County Council highways team, Cumbria Police and local businesses to identify the pinch points in the city centre and support public safety.
When visiting the city centre, shoppers are asked to please plan ahead. Think about how you will be travelling and if you’re driving, where you’ll park and what route you’ll make into the city centre. Please also be aware that there will be limited toilet provision.
Please follow safe distancing measures and look out for signage. Also follow this advice:
- Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.
- Only visit shops with people you live with.
- Maintain 2 metre social distancing at all times wherever possible.
- Wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible including public transport.
- Bring your own hand sanitiser. There will also be hand sanitiser or handwashing facilities when entering premises (to reduce the risk of transmission by touching products while browsing) and also hand sanitisation stations located at various points within the city centre.
- Keep contact to a minimum and try to use contactless payments if available.
- Some shops will need to limit the number of customers, so you may be asked to queue outside.
- Shop alone where possible, unless you need specific assistance.
Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr John Mallinson said: “Carlisle’s city centre is a safe place to visit and as it is pedestrianised, provides lots of space for social distancing. There is likely to be queuing at shops, so please look out for signage and follow the guidance. This is for your safety. Our street cleaning team will be cleaning the city centre on a more frequent basis, but please don’t litter and use the bins located in the city centre.
“We’re looking to welcoming visitors back to Carlisle and recommend that you shop local and support independent businesses. Before you make the journey, check the business’s website to see when they’re opening and what Covid-19 safety measures they’ve put in place.”
All Carlisle City Council car parks are open and charges in place (free parking is available in the following car parks for NHS staff, care workers and NHS volunteer responders involved in the Coronavirus response: Castle Car Park; Sands Centre Car Park; Caldew Riverside Car Park; Viaduct Car Park and West Walls Car Park).
When using the car parks, customers are advised to follow social distancing guidance and if possible, pay by card or contactless rather than use cash and park in alternate bays. The majority of our car parks provide contactless payment options including credit/debit card, mobile phone using MiPermit, Apple Pay and Android Pay.
Overnight closures of Caldew Riverside, Castle and West Walls car parks have been reinstated. This prevents access or exit from the car parks each evening from 8pm to 6.30am the next day in Caldew Riverside and Castle car parks. West Walls car park closes between 11pm and 6.30am.
The locations of car parks can be found at: www.carlisle.gov.uk/parking
For more information about the city centre reopening, visit www.carlisle.gov.uk/citycentre
