The Burgess Hill shops that have closed during the second lockdown – and the essential shops that remain open

Only essential retailers such as supermarkets and garden centres can stay open under the new restrictions imposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

But our local councils and shopping centres are encouraging residents to support local during the lockdown as retailers still offer click and collect and home delivery services.

Councillor Stephen Hillier, Mid Sussex District Council cabinet member for economic growth, said: “With the recent news of further lockdown it is an understandably worrying time for residents and local businesses,

“We ​have been doing all we ​reasonably can to ​support our local economy and details of grants and funding are on our website.

“Our recently announced Recovery Grant Fund is now accepting applications and will allocate £300,000 to help businesses and voluntary sector organisations deal with new covid-related costs.

“Christmas will be very different this year and our planned campaign to support local businesses and traders has ​had to quickly move online and we would love everyone to get involved.

“Our ​new ‘Bringing Christmas Home’ campaign celebrates our communities and our local businesses, and we want to encourage shopping locally in our towns and villages this Christmas.

“So, until the shops reopen again, we want to help residents find inspiration among the unique and amazing companies we have here on our own doorstep by promoting the online, click and collect and home delivery options of our local businesses.

“We are seeking to pull together online information highlighting the fantastic range of products and services available on our doorstep in Mid Sussex and all​ that these businesses are doing to help you keep Christmas magical.

“If you are a Mid Sussex shop or trader you can add your details at www.midsussex.gov.uk/bringingchristmashome.

“Shoppers can then visit the site to find interesting food, drink, gifts and services – and help support our local shops and their workers.”

Sam Mansell, manager of the Market Place Shopping Centre in Burgess Hill, said the safety and wellbeing of her team, retailers and customers is the centre’s number one priority.

She added: “As a centre, we will do what we can to support the latest Government announcement and help to reduce social contact within our area.

“We will keep customers updated via our website and social media channels with the latest information.

“We will continue to do what we can to support the wider restrictions and measures put in place.”

She confirmed the following retailers in the Market Place have closed their doors:

Card Factory

Vodafone

Clarkes Stationers

Shoe Zone

Bonmarche

Kids Stuff

Garry Spinks

Argos

Hair Essentials

CEX

Hays Travel

Marie Curie

Arch Brow Bar

Present Company

The following retailers remain open:

Waitrose

Boots

Costa

Wilko

Greggs

Grape Tree

K J Thorne Butchers

Pets Corner

KFC

Boots Opticians

Vic Davis

Caffe Nero

Santander

Vision Express

Specsavers.

Nadine King, centre manager of The Martlets shopping centre in Burgess Hill, confirmed the following retailers have closed their doors due to the lockdown:

New Look

Millets

Picture framing (open for click and collect)

Libra phones

The Kiln

Rocking Horse Emporium (looking to offer click and collect)

The following retailers remain open:

Holland & Barrett

YBS

Timpsons

Nimbus clinic (open to clients only)

Foodbank

Reclineeze

Church point

Trading Spaces (Scrapless)

Signposts

Robert Eggleston, leader of Burgess Town Council, said the town council has not made a decision yet on whether the Saturday outdoor market will continue.

“We’re waiting to see the guidance before we make a decision on the market,” he said.

“We are then going to look at the arrangements for home working and the operation of the Help Point.

“I think we’ll be telling staff that can to work from home and we have a slick operation for setting all that up.

“The Help Point is likely to close for the duration.

“Scrapless is staying open because it is a food and household goods store.”

How has lockdown affected your business? Have you been able to stay open? We would love to hear from you. Email [email protected]