Shoppers and visitors to Bury St Edmunds will be able to shop safely in the town centre from today (Wednesday December 2) with many more shops and businesses reopening and new Covid-safe practices in place. Signage and hygiene measures will remain to help with social distancing when visiting businesses.

Our Bury St Edmunds which manages the Business Improvement District (BID) is assisting its member ‘non-essential’ shops, which are looking forward to welcoming customers again, and businesses prepare for working within the measures that being in Tier Two require.

Chief Executive of Our Bury St Edmunds Mark Cordell said: “The measures in place to keep people safe would appear to be working well from the latest Covid figures with the number of cases in West Suffolk currently around half what it was a week ago and the rate per 100,000 people in this area is one of the lowest in the country – lower than Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly which are in Tier One. It’s very encouraging that people are clearly taking so much care to prevent the spread of the virus and I am sure they will continue that responsible attitude when out and about.

“The town centre is looking wonderfully festive and we want people to come in and enjoy it safely. We hope the run up to Christmas will give the town centre the boost that it needs in the current climate but also give people who have worried about going out, the opportunity to shop safely and give themselves a little Christmas cheer as well.”

Many town centre businesses are taking part in the Our Bury St Edmunds best decorated festive window competition which this year is being offered as a trail on the town’s LoyalFree app. The trail gives participants the opportunity to vote for their favourite window and is one of several trails on the app, which also gives users information about current special offers and deals available in the town. Free parking will continue from 3pm on Tuesdays and a number of shops will be staying open until 7pm on Tuesdays for late shoppers.

Mark Cordell added: “We anticipate the town will be busier as people do more of their Christmas preparations but I am confident that all the safety measures that have been taken will ensure shoppers are kept as safe as possible providing they all remember the hands, face, space advice too. I’d advise anyone coming in to visit a specific business to check if they have any special or later opening hours too.”

Our Bury St Edmunds has placed a number of signs and floor markings around the town as visual guides for social distancing. It continues to work with partner agencies including local authorities to help businesses with information and advice about the tier system regulations.

For more information visit www.ourburystedmunds.com/ .