First Shopping Centre Experience Since Lockdown

[Martin.A]

Today my wife and I headed over to nearby Camberley to do a bit of shopping, the first time we've been there since the start of the year. The shopping mall, rather than being full of shoppers on a Saturday afternoon, was pretty quiet. No wonder shops are finding things hard going. There were Covid-19 measures in place but we were appalled at how many people were ignoring them, in particular not wearing masks despite big notices to that effect at all the entrances, walking past the hand sanitising stations without a second glance and ignoring the one-way system even though there were arrows on the floor every few yards, 'keep left' signs down the centre of the walks and huge 'no entry' and 'exit only' signs posted on all the doors. As usual, some of those wearing masks had them over their mouths but not their noses, which leaves you wondering what the point is.

Did some shopping in TKMaxx - they had someone positioned at the entrance dispensing hand-sanitiser to everyone coming in - then went to our favourite coffee shop only to find it had changed hands. Still went in though and got a table in their outdoor seating area, with all the tables a good 3 metres apart I reckon.

On the way home we stopped off at Camberley's huge out-of-town M&S. In the past you had to drive around looking for a parking space. Not today. Inside, everything was more spread out, making some parts of the store look half empty. We had a browse but didn't stay long.

All in all a sobering experience that made us realise how far away we still are from anything resembling what used to be normal.

Martin

 

[Drummer]

I live in a cul de sac off a busy main road and we have been here since the early 1980s. Although some of the shops down along the main road were changed fairly routinely there were some which had been there for longer than we've been here. Now they are pretty much all gone. Many are empty, a few have emptied and started up again as something more frivolous, but it is certainly never going to be the same again. A lot have cut down their hours - even now the schools are back.

 

[PhoebeC]

Today my wife and I headed over to nearby Camberley to do a bit of shopping, the first time we've been there since the start of the year. The shopping mall, rather than being full of shoppers on a Saturday afternoon, was pretty quiet. No wonder shops are finding things hard going. There were Covid-19 measures in place but we were appalled at how many people were ignoring them, in particular not wearing masks despite big notices to that effect at all the entrances, walking past the hand sanitising stations without a second glance and ignoring the one-way system even though there were arrows on the floor every few yards, 'keep left' signs down the centre of the walks and huge 'no entry' and 'exit only' signs posted on all the doors. As usual, some of those wearing masks had them over their mouths but not their noses, which leaves you wondering what the point is.

Did some shopping in TKMaxx - they had someone positioned at the entrance dispensing hand-sanitiser to everyone coming in - then went to our favourite coffee shop only to find it had changed hands. Still went in though and got a table in their outdoor seating area, with all the tables a good 3 metres apart I reckon.

On the way home we stopped off at Camberley's huge out-of-town M&S. In the past you had to drive around looking for a parking space. Not today. Inside, everything was more spread out, making some parts of the store look half empty. We had a browse but didn't stay long.

All in all a sobering experience that made us realise how far away we still are from anything resembling what used to be normal.

Martin

Did you feel okay despite people not following the guidelines?

When we visited decathlon a few weeks ago I feel very uncomfortable with peoples behaviour.

I would very much like to visit Manchester again for shopping but it doesn’t feel like the right time to me. Will wait a little longer I think.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I have definitely noticed a drop-off in ‘pavement spacing’ since April. There are very few pavements that are greater than 6ft wide, and large straggling groups, or even just couples walking side by side can create a sort of ‘wall’ walking towards me. Nipping out around parked cars is nothing like so easy now either with increased road traffic.

I try to leave 6ft space while waiting at pelican crossings, and am amazed by how many people just walk past into the gaps.🙄

 

[grovesy]

I went for a longish walk round a nature reserve where we used to take our dog for a walk and swim, last week.We hardly past anyone else but where we did it was a narrow points .

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I have definitely noticed a drop-off in ‘pavement spacing’ since April. There are very few pavements that are greater than 6ft wide, and large straggling groups, or even just couples walking side by side can create a sort of ‘wall’ walking towards me.

That's the main difference I've noticed too, and was a bit annoyed at myself that it bothered me. The chances of spreading it in the 5 seconds you pass someone on the pavement are close enough to nil that I suspect we shouldn't worry at all. Back when people were keeping to it it always felt to me more like public health theatre rather than effective.

 

[Stuart B]

I’m stopping going to the shops again. I have asthma and am exempt from wearing a mask, But still try to wear one. I have breathing difficulties quite soon after putting the mask on, but wanted to Keep myself safe and be fair to others. Last week I came down with a chest infection, and think it may be Breathing in my own recycled breath. i can’t say for sure, but since using masks my asthma has become really unmanageable. I went for a COVID test and thankfully was negative.