Haywards Heath shops reopen for first time in three months – in pictures

It comes after the government announced that non-essential retailers could welcome customers again from today (June 15), as part of eased lockdown restrictions. Councillor Stephen Hillier, Mid Sussex District Council cabinet member for economic growth, said it was fantastic to see people return to local shops on the first day of reopening. “Our local traders have done tremendous work to put lots of safety measures in place that allow us to shop with confidence,” he said. “The atmosphere has been so positive and it’s a pleasure to see shoppers respecting social distancing rules and looking out for one another. Of course, not every shop will be reopening this week. Some shops have been trading throughout the pandemic and we all owe a huge debt of gratitude to those shop workers who have worked so hard to keep our country running. Others will be unsure about whether there are enough customers to justify reopening and that’s why it’s going to be really important for us to show our local shops just how much we value them.” He said the coronavirus pandemic had given us all a much greater appreciation and connection with our local community, adding: “I sincerely hope that this translates into support for our local shops, particularly those who have bent over backwards to help our most vulnerable residents. Now is the time to be part of the revival. If there is a local business that you would sorely miss if it were to close, then please act NOW by supporting them with your custom.”