Longer opening hours for shops

Freshney Place shopping centre in Grimsby has already announced longer hours this week – until 8pm today (Thursday) and tomorrow, and is offering free parking after 4pm throughout December.

North East Lincolnshire entered the strictest Tier 3 this week, however in all tiers shops are allowed to reopen, giving people the opportunity to shop for gifts in the run up to Christmas.

As part of the plan to make sure shopping is as safe as possible over Christmas and the January sales, premises will be allowed to open beyond any planning restrictions they have on their premises until the end of January.

Sunday trading hours are not included in this extension.

Cllr Philip Jackson said: “We are coming out of a particularly difficult period for businesses, and whilst we want to see the local shops increase their takings before and after Christmas, we all need to see this done as safely as possible.

“Should shops decide to open later, along with the click and collect and online ordering systems that many have already introduced, the new plans should help spread footfall in our borough, ease public and private transport pressure, and make shopping in a socially distanced way easier by giving shoppers greater flexibility to choose when they shop and avoid peak times.”

There are different regulations covering shops that sell alcohol, such as newsagents and local convenience stores. Premises selling alcohol have the option to stop alcohol sale at normal time, but continue with other sales during extended hours.

If premises wish to continue to sell alcohol outside their normal licensing hours, they need to submit an application for a Temporary Event Notice. This can be done online at www.nelincs.gov.uk/licencing/temporary-event-notice.

This weeks opening hours for Freshney Place are:

Wednesday 2nd December 8am-8pm

Thursday 3rd December 8am-8pm

Friday 4th December 8am-8pm

Saturday 5th December 8am-6pm

Sunday 6th December 10.30am- 4.30pm