Stockton Heath shops prepared as village reopens for business

Non-essential retailers – including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, electronics, department stores, photography studios and indoor markets – can open again from Monday.

It is the latest move in the Government’s Covid-19 recovery strategy as the easing of the lockdown continues.

The Warrington Guardian, which is part of Newsquest Media Group, is playing its part in helping to revive the borough’s economy through our Back Our Businesses campaign.

It is being supported by Warrington Borough Council and its economic development and regeneration arm, Warrington and Co.

As well as the town centre, villages across Warrington have a crucial role to play.

Warrington South Tory MP Andy Carter believes the borough’s small independent shops are the lifeblood of villages and the town centre.

Stockton Heath is among the areas that will be pivotal in rebooting the area’s economy.

Ladies fashion boutique Sorelle Style, on Walton Road, is currently closed but will reopen on Tuesday on a reduced hour basis.

It will be open from 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

This will allow the company to manage staff and customer numbers in the store, while it will continue to offer free local deliveries for customers who are self-isolating.

Company director Amy Cook says it was a very uncertain time for the business at the beginning of the lockdown.

Sorelle Style director Amy Cook

She said: “We didn’t know how long we would need to be closed.

“We didn’t know what help and support, if any, would be put in place, which was incredibly unsettling.

“Thankfully, the Government and Warrington Borough Council have been very supportive to independent retailers, so we have been able to sustain things in the meantime until reopening.

“Online sales and site visits have definitely risen during lockdown, as people have still wanted to treat themselves.

“However, I know a lot of customers will be longing to come into store, try on and mooch the rails when we can reopen and this should see an increase in sales.

“I think the footfall in the village will gradually increase as people become more confident with lockdown restrictions being lifted.

“Personally, I do believe it will benefit local businesses in the long run as there is ‘less risk’ shopping in small, well managed boutiques and shops, as opposed to large crowded shopping malls.

“We can work on a more one-to-one basis with customers, allowing us to manage safety measures and good social distancing practices, keeping both ourselves, staff and customers safe.”

Pets Pantry has now reopened its store, on London Road, after remodelling the site to ensure social distancing can be maintained.

Throughout the lockdown it has been selling products online, while providing a click and collect service.

Managing director Karen Hodgkins said: “It allowed us to carry on with our business and we also did our deliveries.

Pets Pantry

“We didn’t furlough anybody so that was another good thing for us, everybody was kept busy with the deliveries but it wasn’t the same as having our shop door open.

“The turnover has dropped but at least we have a business and we’ve felt lucky that we still had some business because a lot of shops just haven’t had any business.”

Karen believes the success of stores will depend on whether customers feel safe about returning to the village.

She said: “I think because a lot of businesses are independent businesses we have tried to work around it – we are pretty inventive, self-employed people. We reinvent ourselves to keep in business.”

Living Colour Floral Design, on London Road, will reopen its shop on Monday.

But while the store has been closed, it has been able to sell goods while doing contactless deliveries.

Director Heather Ryder said: “I had to shut down for three weeks because we couldn’t get any flowers.

“But after three weeks I started working again and have just been doing contactless deliveries.”

However, despite the shop reopening she is concerned about no weddings taking place. She said: “Weddings are a massive part of our business, it’s not just a shop that we sell stuff from.

“We do lots of weddings and functions. I am concerned about the wedding situation as we don’t even know if September’s weddings are going to go ahead.

Stockton Heath

“I am not optimistic we will do any weddings in September.

“Through the shop I personally think people will come out and start spending money because I just think they are so fed up of it all now.

“Hopefully, people will come into the shop and obviously we will still be able to do the deliveries as we do that anyway.

“People have been very loyal to me and have been ordering to deliver for friends and family that they can’t see.”

An Indian restaurant in Stockton Heaths has expressed concerns over the restrictions it will face because of social distancing when it reopens.

Along with restaurants across the country, Cardamon, on London Road, was forced to close its doors in March.

The announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson formed part of measures to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

Cardamon has been providing a takeaway service during the lockdown.

Cardamon in Stockton Heath

But manager Ansarul Hoque says the business is struggling and has only just been keeping its head above water.

He has been in the industry for 16 years but says this is by far the biggest challenge he has faced.

Mr Hoque said: “Our restaurant is a 150-seater but with social distancing it will only be a 40-seater.

“It will be a 40-seater with social distancing and everything in place, as we are having to reduce a lot of chairs and tables to keep social distancing in place.”

Mr Hoque also shared his views on whether he believes being situated in Stockton Heath will play a key role in the future of the restaurant.

“It doesn’t matter what location you are in,” he added.

“You can be in any location, the location is not the issue at the moment.”