WELCOME back... that’s the key message from town centre traders as Worthing businesses look to bounce back from lockdown.

Adur and Worthing Councils have joined forces with businesses across the area to assure visitors that all efforts are being made to make shopping, going out and relaxing in the town centre a safe and relaxing experience.

A month-long campaign, titled #WelcomeBackAW features a dozen businesses and organisations and the measures they have taken to adapt to the “new normal”.

Among those included are pubs, restaurants, cafes, taxi drivers, hairdressers, galleries and attractions, such as the Worthing Observation Wheel.

The campaign comes after a councils’ survey, which received more than 700 responses and showed more than half (53 per cent) of respondents said they would like to visit shops, restaurants or cafes but were concerned about the risks.

It also showed 20 percent said they were ambivalent about going out, 17 per cent are happy to go out and just nine per cent said they would definitely not be going out.

Armed with those figures the councils, together with traders, are communicating with residents by providing details of the measures taken to adhere to the Government’s guidelines on safe towns.

One major trader, Andy Sparsis, founder of Proto Restaurant Group which owns The Fish Factory and The Fat Greek Taverna, said he welcomed the move.

He said: “Like everyone we take the pandemic very very seriously. It has affected all of us which is why we have put in measures in our restaurants to make them safe and help our customers have a relaxing, fun time out.

“This campaign will give us all the chance to tell residents just how seriously we are taking their safety and I welcome it.”

In the next few weeks a number of traders will be profiled telling residents about their businesses and the measures they have taken.

Councillor Kevin Jenkins, Worthing Borough Council’s member for regeneration, said: “It is still vitally important that we all observe measures to combat Covid such as social distancing and washing our hands for at least 20 seconds but it is also now possible that we can access our town centres, enjoy shopping or having a meal while supporting our businesses safely. They are the lifeblood of our local economy and I personally will be doing as much as I can to support them.”

The campaign will also continue to stress the need for individuals to adhere to safety measures such as washing hands, wearing face masks where required and keeping to social distancing measures.

It will be supported by the Government’s Reopening High Streets Safely Fund, which has provided grants from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) to councils across England.

#WelcomeBackAW is part of And Then, the Councils’ programme of interventions and assistance to help the communities of Adur and Worthing bounce back from the impact of lockdown.