A ONE-WAY system could be introduced in Southend High Street to keep shoppers safe as stores emerge from weeks of closure caused by Covid-19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that non-essential shops will be able to re-open from June 15.

Bosses have now unveiled proposals to protect their customers and revive stores which have been closed for nearly two months because of coronavirus.

Among them include the potential for a one-way system in Southend High Street.

Effectively, this could mean shoppers have a specific route to enable social distancing.

Kevin Robinson, Southend councillor responsible for business, culture and tourism, said: “We could potentially see Southend High Street use a one-way system, which could involve physical barriers and community officers on site prompting social distancing.

“Luckily the area is already rather broad. We will be talking to our mobile teams to make sure it’s as sanitised as possible- most of the furniture on the high street is metal so can be easily cleaned.”

He added: “We will be working with teams at the Royals Shopping Centre and the Victoria Shopping Centre so they can also re-open safely, but shops individually will be taking the reins on how they will work. Poundland in the Victoria is already functioning and WH Smith has a one-way system so customers can get through and access the post office there.

“At some point in the very near future myself and my colleagues will be sitting down and talking about this idea and how we can make it as safe to use as possible.”

Eastgate Shopping Centre, in Basildon, will spearhead measures including a one-way circulation route for shoppers, hundreds of two metre floor stickers, and hand sanitising stations.

Tactics will also include controlling the number of people in the shopping centre at any one time and the number of cars in its car park, restricting lifts to one shopper or one family at a time and additional cleaning throughout each day.

Staff shift patterns and rotas have also been organised so employees will only work in small teams.

Eastgate manager Ian Clark, said: “Having had four shops remain open we have useful experience plus a thorough plan for when more shoppers visit. The safety and wellbeing of our shoppers, the centre’s colleagues and our retailer’s staff remains our highest priority. We will follow the latest Public Health advice, including on topics such as face masks.”

Dennis Baldry, centre manager at the Victoria Shopping Centre in Southend, said: “Most of our stores won’t re-open fully until June 15- we will have a range of measures in readiness for this that will be put in place over the coming week to ensure the centre is able to operate safely and in accordance with the current regulations.”

The Royals Shopping Centre are expected to release their action plan in the near future.