Re-opening our town centres after Covid-19

Why are we doing this?

Hello. Please help us to help your town recover from Covid-19 (coronavirus).

In March 2020, the Welsh Government announced a 'lockdown' in order to slow the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus), a dangerous respiratory disease. For more than three months, town centres - the heart of many of our communities - stood still and quiet, with businesses closed and visitors and locals alike asked to stay at home and away from others until things became better. 

On 19th June 2020, the Welsh Government announced that businesses could begin to re-open and that (provided that Covid-19 case numbers or transmission rates continued to drop) people would be able to again enjoy increasing levels of freedom.

What do we want to know?

We'd like to know how you feel. We understand that the latest announcements from Welsh Government have generated mixed feelings amongst our businesses and in our communities. Many of you may feel relieved and excited at the prospect of being able to re-start your businesses and your lives, and to spend time in familiar places with familiar people. We also understand if you feel anxious or apprehensive about the thought of returning to work or visiting a town centre - even if it's essential.

However you feel, that's okay.

How are we helping?

We understand the range of things you may feel about town centres re-opening and we want to help. We're working hard with local businesses and partner organisations to try and ensure that town centres feel safe and welcoming. Over the coming weeks and months we hope to have the following measures in place:

- Changes to town centre layouts to provide increased space for pedestrian use and active travel
- Signs, barriers and posters to promote social distancing
- Queueing systems outside key business premises
- Increased presence in town centres from our own (council) staff as well as support from colleagues in North Wales Police to ensure that directional signage is followed and to answer your questions.

How can you help us?

Talk to us! Your experiences are important and if you're in or you've visited a town centre recently we'd like to know what you think.

We've set up two short surveys - one for businesses and one for visitors. Please fill them in whenever you visit a town centre. The surveys have a maximum of 5 multiple-choice questions and are completely anonymous. We won't ask you for any personal data.

We will use your feedback to capture and monitor your moods and to track these changes over time. Your answers will feed into dicussions about what we do next and whether we're getting things right or if we need to change anything.

Diolch / thank you.
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Location: Denbighshire County Council

• Start date 21 June 2020
• End date 31 October 2020
• Methods Questionnaire - Online
• Supplier Denbighshire County Council

What we found out

What difference has it made?