Bishop's Stortford's MP finds out how the town centre is bouncing back
MP Julie Marson took to the streets of Bishop's Stortford to talk to town centre traders about the commercial impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Her guide for the tour was Gina Thomas, manager of the Bishop's Stortford BID (Business Improvement District), as the Hertford and Stortford Conservative talked to shops and services about the effect of the pandemic lockdown.
Mrs Marson started her visit – which took place on Friday June 26, eight days before the so-called 'Independence Day' reopening – in FE Hinds, the Jackson Square jeweller.
Precinct manager Michael Smith and BID board chairman Karen Burton were there to greet her and update her on measures traders are making to adapt their operations.
Mr Smith said that sales since June 15, when the Government allowed non-essential retail to resume, were encouraging. While footfall was down, customers coming into town were doing so to make specific purchases.
Mrs Burton, who runs Karen's Cakes at Northgate End, outlined how the BID had provided advice and practical help, with social distancing and sanitisation to ensure staff and shoppers stay safe.
That was illustrated at Muse in Bridge Street, where a new website has been set up and clothes are steam-cleaned after customers try them on. In a theme repeated across the town about customer loyalty, boutique manager Sam Proud said: "All of our regulars have come back."
At Premier Travel in South Street, manager Judith Bates was anxiously waiting for the implementation of air bridges so continental holidays can resume. She said there was clear demand and urged Mrs Marson to press the Government to open up destinations like Greece.
Without that stimulus, she said, since reopening staff had been dealing with a stream of refund requests and rebooking: "The situation is dire."
At Hair by Elements in South Street, salon owner Jackie Colman told Mrs Marson she was already fully booked for July, but she was disappointed that the Government had put the brakes on reopening her other outlet, Urban Spa, in Devoils Lane, and beauty services.
At Ruby Rooms close by, there was further encouraging news that 90% of customers were happy with the social distancing in place in the shop.
During her tour, Mrs Marson was accompanied by the Conservative leader of the town council, Cllr John Wyllie, who is also an East Herts district and Herts County Council member.
The coronavirus has promoted a new collaboration between the local authorities and traders, and Mrs Marson was keen to see that continue.
She hoped other positives, such as improvements in air quality with reduced traffic, could be maintained as the economic recovery gains pace.
Mrs Marson said as her visit concluded: "I have been very pleased to hear positive remarks from a wide range of businesses.
"I recognise not every business has been affected in the same way or to the same extent. But every business has its problems and we want them all to bounce back and flourish."
She said: "Communities and businesses have risen to this challenge extremely well. It's awe-inspiring and this visit has confirmed that.
"It's been a real learning experience – the level of ingenuity and resilience and absolute community spirit."
