Shops could extend daily opening hours
Retail shops and supermarkets in Wyre Forest may open for longer during December and January.
Wyre Forest District Council confirmed that most shops in the district are not subject to planning conditions that limit their hours of opening on Monday to Saturday.
Following the Government’s announcement, the council will not seek to enforce any planning conditions that limit opening hours of retail shops and supermarkets during December and January. That does not include restaurants, public houses, takeaways or any class of business, other than retail shops.
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It is hoped the changes will encourage residents to shop locally and help retailers who have been forced to close during the national restrictions.
Councillor Graham Ballinger, leader of Wyre Forest District Council said: “Maximising flexibility for shops to extend opening hours means that they can choose to spread shopping for customers over more hours in the day than usual and help to minimise the spread of Covid during the busy period leading up to Christmas and in the New Year.
"While we are happy to assist shops at this time, it is a pity that the Government has not addressed the desirability of lengthening shopping hours on the three Sundays before Christmas, to reduce crowding on those days.”
Councillor Fran Oborski, deputy leader, added: “For December 2020 only, we are also reintroducing the relaxation of enforcement on delivery hours for retail shops.
“We hope that this move will help retail shops and supermarkets if they need greater flexibility than normal in restocking and so that communities can access the full range of goods."
