Council leaders have written to 50 shops in Stoke-on-Trent – due to concerns that some may be breaking lockdown rules on non-essential retail.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council has received allegations that some 'mixed retail' businesses, which sell both essential and non-essential goods, are keeping the non-essential side open in breach of the current coronavirus restrictions.

The government's guidance states that where a shop has 'sufficiently distinct parts', such as different floors for food and clothing, the non-essential section must stay closed. Non-essential concessions operating within an essential retailer are also barred from opening.

But supermarkets which sell non-essential goods such as homeware and clothing are not required to close off those aisles, and can continue trading as normal.

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The city council has received reports of the following examples, all of which would be against the rules.

  • Retailers that sell bikes but have continued to have non-essential parts of their stores open selling clothes and even allowing people to try on walking boots.
  • Stores which sell food downstairs and clothing upstairs, and have kept their upstairs open selling clothes.
  • Stores with a post office in their premises continuing to have non-essential retail open, and continuing to keep those parts of the premises open when the post office closes.

The city council has written to 50 retailers, including 'big national chains', reminding them of the need to follow lockdown rules.

It comes after a row broke out over whether M&S at Wolstanton and Hanley should be allowed to keep its clothes section on the ground-floor open.

Last week the authority wrote to 82 supermarkets and shops asking them to tighten up their enforcement of the rules relating to face coverings.

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Council leader Abi Brown said: "We've been receiving an increasing number of complaints from people who are saying that they've been to a shop selling essential things, but they've seen people buying non-essential stuff. It's anecdotal at the moment, but we're sending a warning to those retailers that the sale of non-essential items is against the law.

"Our Covid stewards are out and about visiting shops. They'll be moving through the city visiting supermarkets and other large retailers.

"I think we've had a good response to the letter from last week. We've heard about Tesco in Trent Vale handing out masks to shoppers, and Tesco in Meir Park are giving advice to people about shopping alone."

Dr Paul Edmondson-Jones, director of adult social care, health integration and wellbeing, said: "I personally wrote a further letter to retailers to appeal to their continued sense of public responsibility as part of the on-going battle against coronavirus here in the city.

"Retailers have a key role to play to help to control the spread of coronavirus by ensuring adherence to a number of measures within their stores. Many people are now staying home, so visiting a supermarket or retail store may be the only place they visit.

"Retailers have been asked to review the sale of non-essential retail in their shops, ensure masks are worn in stores, ensure customers (and staff) are able to socially distance in stores and ensure managers are visible within stored and at the entrance.

“The more that we can combat coronavirus in Stoke-on-Trent, the sooner we can get retail and other businesses fully up and running again and reduce the restrictions on residents so that they can more freely and more safely visit stores.”

The letter sent to shops reads: "I'm asking you to consider the provision of essential versus non-essential items in your store.

"Please review the aisles or areas that are open in your shop selling non-essential items and whether these could be cordoned off safely to ensure that only essential items are offered for sale."