WORK is taking shape to make sure Northwich is alive and kicking once lockdown is lifted.

Meetings to discuss the future after lockdown have begun over the past week between Northwich BID, town centre businesses and council representatives.

It comes as the BID is working on a recovery plan for the town to help its businesses bounce back from the coronavirus crisis.

Jane Hough, manager of Northwich BID, said: "We’re working hard on this recovery plan with organisations, businesses, individuals and stakeholders from Northwich and beyond so that the town can be in a position to get back up and running when some form of normality resumes.

Northwich Guardian:

“We know that it’s going to be a different high street from the one before Covid-19 in terms of how consumers interact with shops, restaurants, offices, leisure venues and bars but we’re determined to work with our businesses to negate the impacts of Covid-19 as much as possible while ensuring that the safety of visitors and workers isn’t compromised.

“A collaborative, open and inclusive approach is the only way that Northwich as a whole can come out of the other side of this successfully and although it will be a massive challenge, we’re looking forward to working together with our businesses and partners to make it happen.”

As part of the work, the BID is focusing on ways to make sure visitors and customers will feel safe in town, how to promote and raise Northwich's profile.

Video calls are being held between the BID and businesses to gather ideas for a way forward for the town.

Cllr Sam Naylor, Labour member for Witton on Cheshire West and Chester Council, is the local authority's representative on the BID board.

He added: "We are not alone in this. Every town in the world is in the same boat. There will be all kinds of wonderful ideas about dealing with this, and we want to be in a position to pick up the best ones and run with them.

"Like anywhere else, we just want to get Northwich up and running again as soon as possible."

"We are going to be meeting on a really regular basis, reacting to the advice from Government and any incentives that are going to town centres."

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The recovery plan follows the BID's earlier support for traders in the pandemic.

An online community campaign will also be launched this month to shine a spotlight on the work town centre businesses are doing.

See facebook.com/visitnorthwich for more information.