Shops in Dartford High Street were getting back to business this morning, and while many were pleased to see a busy town centre, others voiced concerns that the town had been hit especially hard by coronavirus.

There was a hand sanitiser station in the high street with an information board, along with greeters offering safety advice.

Barry Clarke, 72, from Merryweather Close, Dartford, said he wouldn’t be shopping in recently reopened high street outlets, adding: “It doesn’t affect me as long as I can get to Sainsbury's.

"It’s good to see it busy in one way but I’m very apprehensive – there’s definitely going to be another spike.”

However he had a new suggestion to help the council safely encourage economic regeneration. “They want to open the market but they can’t,” he said.

“My suggestion is put it in the park. There’s miles of space and they can spread out to their heart’s content.”

Another fellow shopper, who didn’t want to be named, said he was also concerned.

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“I don’t know what to think, frankly,” he said. “It depends whether there’s an upsurge in infections. I heard Dartford had the greatest volume of deaths in Kent, so it’s been bad here.”

But Deborah Hall, 57, from Temple Hill, said she had no concerns about the shops being back open. “It’s fine,” she said. “I’m just doing some general shopping, and it’s nice to see it busy. It’s just nice to see it getting back up and running and to see people out and about.

"I think it’s ok to do it now. People have been in the supermarkets all this time so I can’t see the problem.”

Priory Shopping Centre manager Rob Burdett said: “It is fantastic that we can now welcome back our retailers after what has been a difficult few months for them. While it isn’t quite the same retail environment – with one-way systems and social distancing in place – customers have been very understanding and co-operative in adjusting to it. We thank them for their continued support.”

Gurjit Singh, of Esquires Coffee, said: “It’s great to see the High Street opening again, we’ve got measures in place to make our business as safe as possible and our customers have been really supportive. We’d like to thank everyone for their patience.”

Orchards shopping centre manager Debra Carey said: “We’re really pleased with the way that reopening has gone, with shoppers and businesses sticking to the government guidance. It’s great that we’re now taking those first steps towards getting the town back up and running again.”

Council leader Jeremy Kite said: “We’ve had a very good first day in the town centre. People are complying with our advice and seem to understand the need to be more patient and understanding than usual.

"Traders seem busy and are implementing the social distancing rule well. I walked around the town earlier today and was pleased to hear how many residents appreciated all the work that has been done.

"Of course, we mustn’t be complacent and this is just the start of a gradual return to normality that we are going to have to manage very carefully to ensure everybody stays while shopping, but there’s no doubt that this has been a landmark day for the town and it seems to have gone very well.”

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