NORTHWICH has reported a positive few weeks back for traders and hospitality, with footfall up 196 per cent since last year.

Cheshire West and Chester Council, the borough’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and traders have been working together to make the reopenings as safe and as welcoming as possible.

Hands, Face and Space is still the message for visitors and shoppers alike.

By allowing a little more time, planning, booking ahead and being careful, the high streets across the borough are hoping to capitalise on the strong start.

Northwich welcomed television cameras as the shops prepared to re-open.

Footfall was 196 per cent up on 2020 (during lockdown), only 12 per cent down on 2019.

Adam Gerrard, Northwich BID project manager said: "We’ve done well in the first week, traders were very positive with their results last week.

"A number of businesses opened to offer al-fresco in the day and more opened at the weekend for evening drinking.

"It’s gone down well with the local community, there’s lots of positive messages on social about there being an incredible buzz in the high street.

"When we handed out thank you bags, I could feel the buzz myself, people were smiling, socialising safely and just enjoying the ability to venture out."

If the Covid infection rates can be kept under control, the Government roadmap will allow further indoor attractions and hospitality to open next month.

Hotels, restaurants shops and attractions are now looking forward to a steady recovery, hopefully to the pre-Covid times where the borough welcomed 36.4 million tourists accounting for £2.12bn for the local economy (2018).

Gemma Davies, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s director for housing and economy said: "The first week has been a very good start for our local businesses, definitely helped by the good weather.

"Chester’s footfall counters recorded over 61,000 people on Saturday 17 April, compared with the same time last year when the country was at the start of the pandemic and just 6,000 people were recorded.

"Northwich is reporting similarly high numbers returning to the high street with numbers fast approaching 2019 levels.

"Moving forward we have plans for events to welcome visitors back, at the same time there is a growing list of exciting projects across the borough including Ellesmere Port’s Hub building, Chester Northgate and Chester High Street Heritage Action Zone, Winsford Town centre developments and the Northwich Market site."