The shops in Boroughbridge are now open, following lockdown. One shop owner called the town a “bubble” and suggested that was a reason shoppers felt comfortable to return.

The small market town did not see the long queues at stores other towns saw yesterday.

Shop owners were optimistic though for a positive return to trading. Sue Hufton who owns Issima, a gift shop in Boroughbridge, felt confident about the reopening:

“Nobody has questioned any of our safety measures, we’ve had customers waiting to come in for a while. Boroughbridge is a bubble its a small place, I think because its smaller people feel safer to come and visit us. Many are happy to come in and buy our products.”

Issima was one of many shops that opened today.

Read more: 

• Knaresborough shop owners were hopeful as they reopened today. 
• Unlike other shops today, charity shops will not be re-opening. 

Similarly, one shopper agreed the size of the town made her feel confident to shop. Honour Wearden told The Stray Ferret:

“Its only a small market town and they seem to be looking after people quite nicely, its well sign posted and you get gel when you come in. You feel quite happy because it seems normal, its well organised and there are measures out to help. I appreciate what they’re doing, I feel quite comfortable here as in the bigger shops I feel quite uncomfortable but here its more or less normal.”

Not all shoppers felt comfortable, Lynne Crane was still cautious of the shops reopening, she said:

“I think people are still going to be very wary of going into shops and I think it’ll take us a while to get back to normal. I feel bad for the shop owners as they’ve been desperate to open but there doesn’t seem to be crowds of people out. I’ve decided that I’m not going to just go in to browse I’ll only go in if I need something.”

Knaresborough was busy this afternoon as shops opened their doors for the first time since lockdown.

Shop owners were feeling optimistic as they took their first tentative steps to reopening.The town’s independent shops were hopeful for a sense of normality to follow their reopening.

All of the shops had safety measures- each had its own measures in place including cleaning stations and one-way systems.

Jordan Thompson owns women’s clothing store Harriet’s in Knaresborough, the store is operating at a maximum of three customers in the store at a time. She told us:

“I’m feeling excited and a little anxious today, but we’ve already had a few customers come in and purchase items. We have to get back to some kind of normality, although it’s going to be a change in normality with the gloves and masks and social distancing, we still need to get back to some sort of normality.”

Martin Sturdey, the owner of Zigzag, a cards and gifts shop in Knaresborough, said:

“We’ll probably have quite a good few days and then it’ll tail off and then build up again, its just difficult to predict. The good thing about Knaresborough is theres lot of independent stores and people want to support us. All we can do is take all the precautions and see what footfall is like. I think it’s going to take the rest of the year to slowly pick up as people gain confidence and return.”

Stations such as these are present in many of the shops in Knaresborough to encourage customer safety.

Read more: 

• Sports Direct opened its doors this morning to huge queues of keen shoppers.
• Take a look at our list of shops that are reopening this week near you.

Knaresborough town centre didn’t see the queues that other towns across the country did, but many shoppers still came out to browse. One happy shopper told The Stray Ferret of her experiences, Linda Humphrey said:

“I feel confident in shopping again today, I’m being sensible I have my mask and sanitiser with me. There’s been no problems in the shops I’ve been to, everybody is doing what they should be. I’m doing my dads shopping today and I’ve had no issues today or when I’ve been in previous weeks. I’m glad it’s like this again.”

This column is written for The Stray Ferret by the President of Boroughbridge & District Chamber of Trade, Derek Hufton

Walking through Boroughbridge town centre in recent weeks has been a sobering and surreal experience. With the majority of businesses closed the normal hustle and bustle has gone. There are fewer familiar faces to acknowledge and pass the time of day with, and the usual banter between passers-by that normally gives the town its buzz in such a close-knit community is largely absent. Yet despite that, the people who do venture out for exercise or to visit the few essential shops that are still trading, invariably do so with a smile on their face. The renowned local community spirit is still very evident.

My own excursions around the town have been limited, but I do detect that that residents are preferring to shop local whenever possible because they feel safer than mingling with the crowds at supermarkets. I hope that will change some shopping habits beyond the crisis to the benefit of local businesses. While walking through the town on VE Day I was stopped in my tracks as a mother duck came waddling down the high street with 8 ducklings busily trying to keep up – not a sight you see in many town centres!

Last February I took over the Presidency of the local Chamber of Trade, so I naturally have a very keen interest in how the business community is faring at all times, but particularly now. Little did I know at the time what local businesses would be faced with just a few weeks into my tenure. They say timing is everything!

As a Chamber it’s important to ensure everyone is taking advantage of the help that is available from government through the crisis, but also to act as a conduit for sharing experiences and expertise – we are a business community. One thing I really miss now is not being able to have those informal face to face conversations of how things are going, and certainly there are no opportunities to ‘press the flesh.’

The businesses do not stand alone; they are part of a vibrant community in Boroughbridge. It has been really humbling to see the support and encouragement for local businesses coming from within the community. There is clearly a pent-up demand from loyal customers wishing to see their local valued businesses back open and trading again. It has been hugely gratifying to witness, and believe me, the businesses can’t wait.

For information on the Boroughbridge & District Chamber of Trade click here.

All creatures great and small will gather together – virtually – tomorrow, as churches in the Boroughbridge area unite for a pet service.

Rev Karen Gardiner, vicar of the united parishes of Aldborough, Boroughbridge, Dunsforth, Minskip and Roecliffe, is preparing to bring families and their four-legged friends together despite the lockdown.

Animals will receive a blessing in the 4pm online service, which is open to anyone who wants to participate, including those without pets.

Rev Gardiner said: “We’re looking forward to it very much. We’ve actually got the Bishop of Ripon joining us and giving the final blessing, so that’s going to be really nice.

“It should be a fun-packed service. We know we’ve got horses, dogs and cats so far, and we’re hoping for more.”

The united churches in the Boroughbridge area have been offering online services since lockdown began

With three cats in her family home, Rev Gardiner said animals have become particularly important to people during lockdown and she hopes tomorrow’s service will attract people who do not usually go to church. She added:

“Something like a pet service is one of those things that people relate to. At the moment, people’s pets have come to mean such a lot to them, especially if you’re on your own – but even in a family, our cats have been a tremendous emotional support. It feels right to have a chance to say thank you to them.”

Rev Gardiner’s cats will be joining the pet service too

Last year, a pet service at Dunsforth proved very popular among locals and it was scheduled to take place again this year. When lockdown began, rather than cancel, Rev Gardiner decided to move the event online.

This Sunday’s pet service will be conducted via Zoom, but anyone without the technology who wants to join in can send a photo of their pet in advance for inclusion in the service. A written transcript will also be available.

More information about how to join the service can be found on the churches’ Facebook page.

Streets across the borough have turned red, white and blue today, as people celebrate VE day.

The Stray Ferret has been speaking to residents across the district about what VE day means for them and their families.

As lockdown continues many people have spent time turning their gardens into a colourful tribute to war veterans who liberated Europe from Nazism 75 years ago today.

A vicar from Boroughbridge told the Stray Ferret that the number of people who tuned into the online Easter Sunday service exceeded the amount that would usually gather at the church congregation.

Reverend Karen Gardiner, vicar for the Boroughbridge Parish of Churches,  held an Easter Sunday service from her back garden with her family. She said:

” It really shows that you can do church anywhere. We will definitely continue to do more of these, it’s a way of creating togetherness through faith whilst people are unable to meet up.”

This innovative method of worship came about due to the temporary closure of churches, in an effort to slow the spread of COVID19.

Yesterday, many Churches across the borough held creative online services, so people were still able to celebrate a key day in the Christian calendar from their own homes.

Revd Karen Gardiner said that as well as providing a service for regular members to connect, it was an opportunity to reach out to a wider audience:

“It’s amazing, we have been getting emails from our church members saying that the online services are enabling their elderly family members, who can no longer attend church, to re-engage with their faith.”

It seems while congregations are being kept apart, the spirit of giving has not gone away.

Revd Karen Gardiner conducting an Easter Service from her garden with her family.