In a video interview with The Guide, the BID chief executive Bill Addy said it was great to see people come back to Liverpool city centre and said shoppers remained ‘cautious’. Tony McDonough reports

Shoppers began returning to Liverpool city centre this week and the boss of the Liverpool BID company, which overseas the main retail district, said the public had been “cautious” and “respectful”.

In an interview with The Guide, the BID chief executive Bill Addy said it was great to see people come back to the city on Monday, June 15 as the Government eased the coronavirus lockdown restrictions and allowed non-essential stores to open.

The BID worked with the city council and Liverpool One to make sure Liverpool’s retailers adhered to the COVID-19 guidelines, offering enhanced cleaning, clear routes through the stores and an increased number of tills.

READ MORE: The Guide’s guide to shopping safely in Liverpool

Mr Addy said: “This week has been the week we have all been long anticipating – the reopening of retail. We opened on Monday and the most important thing was that people came out and were respectful.

“They followed the mantra which was ‘be kind, be responsible’. They followed the signage, they waited in queues and it was great to see everybody. I think that is the initial thing – just get business back slowly.”

He added that there was a slight decline in footfall over the week following the peak on Monday and said this was a phenomenon seen across the country. He said: “I would say that is because of the weather but also because people are still cautious about coming back in.

“One of the things we have done in the city centre was make sure it is clean and it is regularly cleaned and making sure people are respectful of each other’s space… it is the same place we all love and it is ready and open and waiting.”