Announcement awaited on the reopening of Springfields Outlet in Spalding - but Holland & Barrett and Grape Tree health food stores are open

Holland & Barrett and Grape Tree health food stores are reoperating at Springfields Outlet in Spalding.

This is along with the Blue Diamond Home & Garden Centre at the site, which reopened its doors with social distancing measures in place on May 15. This is after the Government gave the go ahead for garden centres to open again.

Both the Holland & Barrett store at Springfields and the Grape Tree store opened their doors again on May 16.

They are among some retail services that have been allowed to continue to trade throughout the COVID-19 crisis as they provide essential products.

Holland & Barrett's other store in Spalding town centre has remained open throughout the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the company said: “The Holland & Barrett Spalding town centre store has remained open throughout the COVID-19 outbreak to help make sure those with special dietary requirements could continue to get the food and supplements they needed.

"The Springfields Shopping Outlet store was reopened on May 16.

“We have provided gloves, masks and hand sanitiser to all of our store colleagues and have also installed shielding screens at the counter, which are cleaned daily, and are following all other safety advice.

"We have established a maximum customer capacity based on the store size and layout, which is controlled by store colleagues. In addition to this, two metre social distancing has also being enforced and tape has been installed marking out a two metre distance from the tills with clear signage throughout stores.

"The contactless payment limit has also been increased to £45 in the UK and we are encouraging all customers to scan and bag their own items where possible, with guidance from store staff. Hand sanitising gels are also in place at every till point for store colleagues and customers to use.

“We look forward to our retail neighbours in the town centre and shopping outlet opening soon.”

At the Grape Tree store at Springfields, assistant Stella Moon said that staff are wearing gloves and masks and have visors. There is a screen up at the payment desk and social distancing measures are in place with two metre markings on the floor. A maximum of four people are allowed in to shop at any one time. The store also reopened on May 16.

Both the Home and Garden and Craft Outlet are open online for home delivery on certain items. Holland & Barrett and Grape Tree also have an online service.

We are waiting for news on the reopening of other retail units at Springfields, but a spokesperson for Springfields Outlet told us on May 21: “Springfields Outlet will, as always, follow Government guidelines and will be making an announcement prior to reopening.”