A POPULAR shopping outlet is preparing to safely reopening after Boris Johnson confirmed the next stage of lockdown lifting in England will take place from next Monday.

Braintree Village will reopen on Monday (April 12) with additional measures to keep visitors safe.

All non-essential shops, gyms and hairdressers will be allowed to reopen, while pubs and restaurants can serve food outside.

Centre director Josef O’Sullivan said the health and safety of customers is the "number one priority".

Visitors will be required to wear a face covering at all times, unless exempt for medical reasons and one-way systems and signs will remain in place.

Safety measures will include:

  • Hand sanitiser points located throughout the centre.
  • A one-way system to help maintain social distancing, with limited capacity.
  • A queuing system for entry to the centre if capacity is reached, to help maintain social distancing.
  • All centre staff provided with face coverings.
  • Signage to remind guests to keep a safe distance apart.

Read more:

Mr O’Sullivan added: "The entire team here at Braintree Village is looking forward to welcoming our colleagues and guests back.

"The health and safety of everyone who visits our centre continues to be our number one priority, as it has been throughout this crisis and we continue to follow the Government’s guidelines.

"The Braintree Village team are incredibly experienced in keeping the centre safe and clean. A huge thank you to our team for all their hard work in preparing for this moment, they are now very well practiced in managing the re-opening of non-essential retail.

"We’ll again be managing the capacity of the centre closely, and at busier times you may be asked to queue outside. Please check our social channels for the most up to date information before setting off.

"We’re very much looking forward to opening our doors again and welcoming people back for a safe and enjoyable experience at Braintree Village."