Despite non-essential retail and other high street business closures in accordance with national measures, the Reopening High Streets Safely project in Torbay is continuing to look at ways to support businesses during this uncertain time.

To reduce social contact, the Government has ordered certain businesses and venues to close. These include all non-essential retail, indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, entertainment venues and personal care facilities. Retailers providing essential goods and services can remain open. Non-essential retail can remain open for delivery to customers and click-and-collect and hospitality venues like restaurants, bars and pubs must close, but can still provide takeaway and delivery services.

Local businesses are being supported in a number of ways, including guidance from a dedicated Information Officer. The Information Officer, who had been visiting businesses safely prior to 5 November, will now be contacting each business via email or phone, to ensure they are aware of any new government guidelines, helping them interpret safety measures and ensuring they are trading safely if they have been allowed to stay open.

High street businesses are invited to join an exclusive closed Facebook Group set up to share communications, work collaboratively with businesses and discuss best practices for keeping the high streets safe. Torbay high street retailers can join the Facebook Group here: www.facebook.com/groups/torbayretailers

Councillor Swithin Long, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Tourism and Housing, Torbay Council, said: “It is vitally important for businesses in Torbay and the local economy that we support our high street retailers in every way possible. By having an Information Officer we can communicate directly with the businesses and provide valuable advice and guidance. As many of us adjust and shop in a different way, I urge the Torbay community to check how they can still use their favourite local businesses. Many of them will still be offering takeaway, delivery services, click and collect and selling gift vouchers so please do head to their websites or social media to see what they are offering.”

We are doing everything we can to support the community in their visits to town centres and precincts across Torbay. The experience of being in town centres will be different and, working with partners, we aim to make the experience as positive as possible. We want everyone to feel confident that our towns can be visited and to gently encourage customers back.

Alan Smith, Information Officer for the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund in Torbay said: “This is an uncertain time for many high street businesses. For those that are closed, we are encouraging businesses to remain connected to their customers via their social media channels, look at diversifying their offering if possible and to keep up with government guidance. For those that have been able to remain open, or are offering an amended service such as takeaway or click and collect, again, communicate this with your customers and ensure your health and safety practices remain compliant. Please do get in touch if we can help in any way.”

Other work will take place during November to ensure high streets can reopen safely to the public, pending the ease of restrictions from 2 December.

For more information about the Reopening High Streets Safely project in Torbay go to www.torbay.gov.uk/reopening-high-streets-safely

This project has received funding from the England European Regional Development Fund as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

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For more information, please contact: Ashley Hoare, Communications Executive at TDA on 01803 208860.

About TDA

Set up in 2011 to deliver Torbay Council’s economic development, TDA is now is an award-winning provider of property and business support services to clients from both the public and private sectors.

TDA provides business and property services in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset and Dorset. As a business with a social purpose the income generated by TDA is used to positively impact on the economic and physical regeneration of Torbay.

www.tda.uk.net