How Beverley's Flemingate centre has invested £70,000 to keep customers safe as the lockdown eases

A major programme of investment is being made in facilities and infrastructure at Beverleys Flemingate centre during the lockdown.

Wykeland Group, the owner and developer of the retail and leisure destination, has used the lockdown to introduce a wide range of improvements.

The £70,000 programme of upgrades includes expanding the click and collect facility to the rear of the Debenhams store, from six to 16 parking spaces, making it even easier and more convenient for shoppers to collect goods from retailers on site.

The expanded facility will feature automatic number plate recognition allowing shoppers to park for free for a maximum of 30 minutes as they collect online purchases from the centre’s wide range of shops.

Flemingate’s play park has also been doubled in size, with the addition of a new play wall and other equipment, as well as an extension to the fencing around the area.

Covid-19 safety signage, social distancing floor vinyls and marker strips have been introduced across the site as well as 30 hand sanitiser stations at key locations.

Plans are in place to extend outdoor seating areas for the centre’s restaurants, cafés and bars, to enable them to accommodate the need for social distancing and waiting areas when they re- open.

David Donkin, Property Director of Hull-based Wykeland, said: “Rather than react to these unprecedented times by retrenching, we have decided to continue to invest and make Flemingate an even more attractive, safe, convenient and welcoming place to shop and spend leisure time.

“We have seen this period as a time to make further improvements that will benefit members of the public and all the businesses across the centre, now and over the long term. We’ve given the centre a thorough makeover, with the safety of customers very much to the fore.

“It all means Flemingate is ahead of the game as retail, leisure and office operators within the Flemingate community re-open progressively over coming weeks.”

The improvements set the scene for the re-opening of businesses across the centre, but Flemingate has continued to operate throughout the lockdown.

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