As the UK enters its fifth week in lockdown and businesses come to terms with the ‘new normal’ of social distancing, some local companies who can do so safely, are now re-opening and adapting their services.

 

 

Many local firms and food outlets who could have remained open but chose to close voluntarily at the start of the lockdown, have now begun phased re-openings by adjusting their offerings in order to provide their services safely and in accordance with UK Government guidance on social distancing.

 

Many local businesses such as The Pirate and Bluebelle and Cardwell Garden Centre have added to their online offering to allow customers to buy products online. Inverclyde Chamber are also advertising any companies still operating via their Covid-19 Business Noticeboard to keep the public up to date with services being offered. Businesses wishing to be included on the Noticeboard for free should contact seo@inverclydechamber.co.uk.

 

 

ARC Fleet Services have also now been able to resume their full range of services from Monday 27th April 2020 to offer their full Rental Services, Accident Repairs and Vehicle Servicing and Repair work.

 

 

After temporarily suspending part of their services, ARC have now implemented additional health and safety protocols which include a pre-booking system for all external visitors, additional cleaning and sanitising of workspaces and equipment, sanitising of vehicles and a strict 2m distancing policy is in place at all times.

 

 

ARC Fleet Services Managing Director, Ian Moffat said:

 

 

“We will continue to follow government and industry guidelines to contain the spread of the virus. A big thank you to our customers for their support and understanding while we have had to adapt to the situation and change our usual opening times.”

 

Many food outlets have also started to reopen with restricted hours, contactless delivery and/or reduced menus, including Nicos Pizza, Kip Chippy and The Cottage Cafe. Others have also been testing the water with one-off offerings such as Inverkip Hotel who held a pop up contactless ‘Chippy Up The Lane’ offering pre-ordered fish and chips and may look to follow this with similar promotions.

 

 

Touching on the resurgence of approved businesses re-opening at her daily briefing this afternoon, First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said:

 

 

“I absolutely understand the anxieties of businesses, and I am acutely aware of the social and health impacts of economic damage. But let me make this point – a premature easing up on restrictions, if it led to the virus running out of control again, would not help your business or the economy. In fact, it would make the economic damage even worse.”

 

“I am asking businesses as well as individuals to continue to do the right things, as indeed the vast majority of you have been doing already, for which you have my deep gratitude. So if you are a business on the list of those required by law to close, then obviously you should remain closed.”

 

 

The First Minister added:

 

“But if you are not in that category but chose to close voluntarily at the start of the lockdown, and are now thinking of reopening – our view is that you should not contemplate doing so, unless you can comply fully with existing guidance, and are able to change your working practices to ensure safe social distancing at all times. The precautionary principle that I have spoken about before still applies, for the protection of your workers and for your customers.”

 

 

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