Shops and premises in North East Lincolnshire can now take advantage of the option to extend their daily opening hours, thanks to temporary arrangements announced by government this week.
On Monday 23 November, the Government published its Covid Winter Plan, which introduced the new Tier system, with North East Lincolnshire currently being in Tier 3.
In all tiers, shops will be allowed to reopen, giving people the opportunity to shop for gifts for family and friends in the run up to Christmas.
As part of the plan to make sure shopping is as safe as possible over the Christmas and subsequent 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 – the temporary extension of hours relates to trading on Mondays to Saturdays only.
Welcoming the announcement, 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,” he continued.
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.
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