Milton Keynes' intu shopping centre launches plan to reopen safely

A taskforce of experts have drawn up a special safety plan, which includes new social distancing, hygiene procedures and limiting the number of customers allowed in the building at any one time.

There will also be one-way systems, floor stickers and queuing zones in the malls to ensure.to ensure shoppers stay socially distanced.

Some parking bays will be closed, and enhanced hygiene regimes that were introduced at the start of the outbreak will continue, with more deep cleaning of key areas and touchpoints like escalators, toilets and keypads.

These measures have remained in place while intu provides access to essential services such as bank access. Hand sanitation stands will also remain at entrances and other locations throughout the centre for visitors to use during their visit.

All intu Milton Keynes staff will be given personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep them safe.

The plan is being fully communicated to intu's retailers who will be provided with support to help them reopen safely and in line with government guidelines.

Matthew Roberts, chief executive of intu, said: “intu is the biggest landlord for most of our brand customers so we have been working to help them plan the reopening of their stores as soon and as safely as they can.

“Experts from across intu have formed a specialist taskforce who have considered everything we need to run intu Milton Keynes and our others centres as safely as possible, with a series of central, common principles for the portfolio and individual plans for each centre. This includes working with our brand customers and providing them with all the support they need to reopen safely, as well as new social distancing and hygiene procedures to keep everyone who visits or works in our centres safe."

He added: “We have introduced enhanced cleaning regimes and hand sanitation stands throughout every centre, measures to limit the number of visitors and ensure they stay socially distanced once inside, and given our staff the protective equipment they need to stay safe.

“We know we cannot do this alone and everyone who visits our centres whether for work or to shop will play their part in keeping themselves and each other safe by following the official guidelines, and the instructions and safety information provided by our teams. Our teams have been working incredibly hard to keep our centres clean and safe during the lockdown and we are hugely grateful to them, and we would also like to thank our brand customers and visitors for all their cooperation and patience so far.”