High Peak traders urge people to shop local ahead of reopening next week

Under the latest lockdown, which began in January, non essential retail, hairdressers, pubs, gyms and other businesses were forced to close but they will be allowed to reopen from Monday as part of the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown.

Jody Cross from Blake’s The Art of Hair has been a familiar face in New Mills for 23 years and is so excited to be welcoming clients back.

The 49-year-old said: “The diary is all booked up and I can’t wait to see the clients and the staff again – I’ve missed them all.

"It’s so good we can reopen – its the businesses and the people which make a community but if people don’t shop local there won’t be that community anymore which would be terrible.”

Jody says she has used her time in lockdown to update her skills, something she would not have had the time for if her Market Street salon had been open.

"It has been really lovely to ring people up and make their day by getting them booked in. We know we will be seeing lots of unruly mops and inches of roots but it will be nice to be together again after months of being apart.”

To ensure everyone’s safety there will be a reduced number of clients and longer time in between appointments for extra cleaning.

Another company which is focusing on how things will be different for customers when they return is gym Transformation HQ which has premises in Buxton, Whaley Bridge, Leek and High Lane.

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Co-owner Carl Lambert said: “We will be asking people to disinfect their hands and feet when they enter and we will be reducing contact of the equipment by having people not rotating back to complete circuits but do all the work on one machine before moving on. We will also be putting people’s weights out ready for them so they don’t have to get them and touch more things.

"We are taking this very seriously and the safety of our staff and clients is at the forefront of everything we do.

”We have been lucky as we have been able to adapt and do online and virtual training while we have been shut but there is nothing quite like seeing people and having that interaction.”

Other businesses which have not be able to work through the lockdown include Devil Heart Tattoo on High Street, Buxton.

Owner Jayne Leech said: “This last year has been a nightmare and it’s such a relief to know we can open again and get money in to pay the bills.

"The government grants for self employed businesses have helped but it is not the same as having regular money coming in.

"Now we are about to open I just want people to shop local as all local independent retailers have had a rough year so shop local and support local because every pound spent in an independent shop puts food on the table for a local family.”

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