retail environment
High Street mainly positive about lifting of restrictions
High Street business leaders have given a largely positive reaction to the government’s end to Plan B restrictions in the UK.
From January 26, compulsory mask-wearing in stores and public transport ceased, alongside working from home orders and vaccination passports.
As a result, footfall in retail destinations across the UK nudged up almost 2 per cent as commuters recommenced travelling to work for the first time since the Plan B measures were introduced in December last year to slow the spread of Omicron.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) have welcomed the moves with its chairman, Mike Cherry saying: “After two years of chopping and changing, small businesses right across England will be hoping that this marks the beginning of a final winding down of trading restrictions.
“We would now urge everyone to get behind small firms – be that on a commute, whilst working from home, online, or in-person – as they work night and day to recover from another incredibly stressful festive season.
However, the CEO of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) Andrew Goodacre, questioned if the easing of restrictions were “based on science”.
He added: “Retail businesses need certainty and we want to be sure that retailers do not need to re-introduce these measures in the near future because the government has acted in haste.
“We now hope that the government can focus on business support as we look to recover.”
“Lifting the working from home recommendation is a particularly important move as it enables town and city centres, and the businesses that are their lifeblood, to begin their revival and recovery. These businesses will be eagerly looking forward to welcoming their customers back over the coming days and weeks.
The CEO of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Richard Burge, said businesses will welcome the ability to reopen their doors, increase capacity or “kickstart their chosen future ways of working plans.”
He concluded: ”Business also needs to hear an update from government regarding the future of the Test and Trace system, and self-isolation support.
“Many people are still not fully vaccinated at this point, and we also cannot be complacent regarding potential emergence of variants, or indeed future viruses.”
