Plans for Peterborough market traders to return and new city ‘café culture’

Boris Johnson announced on Monday that outdoor markets can re-open next week.

And while traders selling essential items have been allowed to continue selling at Peterborough City Market during the coronavirus lockdown, work is now being carried out to allow other stallholders to return.

Leader of Peterborough City Council Cllr John Holdich, writing in his weekly Peterborough Telegraph column, said: “Three weeks ago the Prime Minister lifted restrictions on our movements slightly to allow more people to get back to work and for unlimited outdoors exercise – all whilst observing social distancing of course.

“We now know that outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to re-open from June 1 and all other non-essential retail outlets from June 15, if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the Covid-19 guidelines to protect workers and shoppers.

“On Peterborough market, traders selling essential items such as food, DIY and hardware goods have been able to continue trading during the lockdown. We now plan to undertake a health and safety audit to ensure the Government’s social distancing measures can be implemented safely, before allowing traders selling non-essential items to return.”

Cllr Holdich also revealed plans are being made to introduce a “café culture” in the city as more businesses begin to re-open.

He added: “We have been planning for the re-opening of the city centre for a number of weeks, together with local businesses and business representative groups such as Queensgate, Opportunity Peterborough and Peterborough Positive, so that there is clear guidance for businesses.

“New social distancing guidance and signage will begin to be installed in the city soon and people will start to notice that things they touch a lot such as benches, bins and pay and display machines are being cleaned more regularly.

“We are also working with businesses to see how areas such as St Peter’s Arcade and the Guildhall can become part a wider café culture in the city – I’ll be able to tell you more about this soon!”

The full column can be read in today’s print edition of the PT and online over the weekend.