Okay. So we’re talking about the 12th of April rather than the 12th of August. Moreover, this month no grouse (grouses? grice? – Ed) will be put in peril. However, Monday is poised to be the glorious day which most residents have been longing for – when Ruddington’s non-essential shops, salons, outdoor hospitality, gyms and certain other establishments can finally reopen after our third ‘lockdown’!
After three months of further tight controls to ‘control the Coronavirus’, now the vaccine rollout is well underway across England, the Government ‘roadmap’ has navigated us to the point where it’s considered safe to start getting back some ‘normality’ in the wake of COVID-19… albeit slowly, in a carefully managed way.
Ruddington retailers who were either forced to close or work behind closed doors have been busy getting their businesses ready to welcome back customers in a COVID-safe way. These include Zoe Parton and her team at the Honeycomb Christian Charity Shop, which is reopening and accepting donations again on the 12th, and Nottinghamshire Hospice Shop on the 13th. Collette Priest, who manages the village branch, says: “Like all the other managers I’m looking forward to getting back to my lovely volunteers and our amazing customers and to making some much-needed money for the hospice.”
In line with current guidelines, until May 17th, food or drink may only be consumed outdoors at hospitality venues – and table service must be in place with social distancing in place wherever possible. Bookings are for a maximum of six people or two households per table. Customers are allowed inside premises to use the toilet or baby change facilities but must wear a face covering when doing so. Businesses must also ensure all outdoor facilities, including marquees or other temporary structures placed in car parks or any part of a premises are in line with the guidance and the government’s ‘hands face space fresh air’ approach.
Not all of Ruddington’s cafes are reopening just yet. For example, Philo’s Espresso Bar has outdoor seating in The Courtyard, so will return (and is also able to re-open its gift shop), whilst The Old Bakehouse Tearoom on Church Street does not – and so remains closed until May 17th. Meantime, our village pubs with significant outdoor seating areas will be welcoming patrons again whilst others like The Victoria Tavern are waiting until customers can sit indoors.
However, April 12th is very definitely a big day for Compound Strength & Conditioning – and brand new sister gym Compound Second Space – with their expanded facilities on Brookside Road able to reopen for individual exercise, or exercise with your household or support bubble.
Freedom Dance & Performance on Charles Street is also resuming face to face classes for its young students – although there is now quite a waiting list!
Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Executive Manager for Neighbourhoods Dave Banks says: “It’s been such an unprecedented time for businesses since the pandemic began last March, we want to do all we can to assist them reopening safely from April 12th whilst ensuring business owners are fully aware of their obligations to operate securely.”
He adds: “Customers equally have their role to play to enjoy premises again responsibly and follow all the guidance and crucially ensure they log their details on the app or with staff. No one should enter an outlet if they have any COVID-19 symptoms. Let’s all play our part so we can help the restrictions ease smoothly.”
Close contact services such as Ruddington’s numerous hairdressers, barbers, and nail salons are also required to ask every customer or visitor over 16 years of age to provide their name and contact details and keep these records for 21 days for ‘test and trace’.
Mark Walker, Group Manager for Trading Standards and Communities at Nottinghamshire County Council, explains: “We are talking to our local close contact businesses, and visiting and inspecting sites in and around Nottinghamshire to understand how they are managing risks in line with their specific business activity. Being COVID-secure needs to be the priority for all businesses across the county. It is a legal duty for businesses to protect their workers, customers and others from harm and this includes taking reasonable steps to control the risk and protect people from Coronavirus.”
Additionally, from Monday April 12th…
- Childcare and supervised activities will be allowed indoors (as well as outdoors) for all children. Parent and child groups can take place indoors (as well as outdoors) for up to 15 people (children under 5 will not be counted in this number).
- Weddings, civil partnership ceremonies, wakes and other commemorative events will be able to take place for up to 15 people (anyone working is not included in this limit), including in indoor venues that are permitted to open or where an exemption applies. Wedding receptions can also take place for up to 15 people, but must take place outdoors, not including private gardens.
- self-contained accommodation will be able to open for overnight stays in England with your household or support bubble. However we should continue to minimise the amount that we travel where possible.
- Ruddington’s care home residents will be able to nominate two named individuals for regular indoor visits (following a rapid lateral flow test).
- Ruddington Library (below) will reopen – but with its hours still limited to 10am to 1pm Tuesdays and 1pm to 4pm Fridays.
Additionally, we still must not meet indoors with anybody we do not live with, unless they are part of a support bubble or another legal exemption applies. However, we can meet up outdoors with friends and family we do not live with, either:
- in a group of up to 6 from any number of households (children of all ages count towards the limit of 6) or
- in a group of any size from up to two households (each household can include an existing support bubble).
You can find full details of the new rules following the latest easing of restrictions in England >>HERE<<.
