Update on effects of COVID-19 on Solihull Town Centre

Solihull BID want to keep you updated with the latest news, information and advice during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Please check this page daily for more updates for businesses and individuals.
 

Please click the image above for a list of restaurants and venues in Solihull town centre that offer takeaway options delivered.

Please click the image above for a list of of services and businesses offering food produce deliveries to the local area.

Please click the image above for a list of retail stores in Solihull town centre that offer home delivery.

The following businesses have been told to close by the Government:

 All non-essential premises must now close. Takeaway and delivery services may remain open and operational in line with guidance on Friday 20 March. Online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will run as normal.

Click here for Government guidance on which premises are allowed to remain open.

TOUCHWOOD

Touchwood is now CLOSED to the public except to gain controlled access to SUPERDRUG. The safety and wellbeing of all guests and staff is always Touchwood's number one priority.

They remain committed to keeping everyone safe and working together as a community to get through this period of adversity.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

All Touchwood events and activities have ceased until further notice.

MELL SQUARE

The following businesses REMAIN OPEN:      

- BARCLAYS (open 9am - 4pm, Monday - Friday)
- BOOTS (Open 9am - 5.30pm on Monday - Saturday; open 10.30am - 4.30pm on Sunday. Please note that the store will be closed daily between 2:30pm and 3:30pm for restocking. All fragrance and make up has now been sectioned off so all non-essential items have been cleared.)
- GRAPE TREE (open 9am - 5.30pm on Monday - Saturday; open 10am - 4pm on Sunday)
- MARKS & SPENCER (open 9.30am - 6pm on Monday - Wednesday; open 9am - 7pm on Thursday - Saturday; open 10am - 4pm on Sunday)
- METRO BANK (open 10am - 4pm, Monday - Friday)
- PERSPECTIVE OPTICIANS (emergencies and appointments only but contact lenses can still be ordered for delivery to your home address)
- POUNDLAND (open 8am - 4.30pm on Monday - Saturday; open 11am - 4.30pm on Sunday)
- SAINSBURY'S (open 8am - 6pm on Monday - Saturday; 11am - 5pm on Sunday)
- SAVERS (open 10am - 5.30pm on Monday - Saturday; closed on Sunday)
- SPECSAVERS HEARING CENTRE (open 9am - 5.30pm, Monday - Saturday. One customer allowed at a time.)
- WH SMITH / POST OFFICE (open 9am - 3pm, Monday - Friday. Open 9am - 12.30pm on Sunday.). WH Smith is offering a 20% discount on food and drinks for NHS staff.

SOLIHULL TOWN CENTRE

The following businesses REMAIN OPEN:      

- COVENTRY BUILDING SOCIETY (open 9am - 3pm, Monday to Friday. Open 9am - 2pm on Saturday.
- HALIFAX (open 10am - 2pm, Monday to Friday)
- HSBC (open 9.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday)
- LLOYDS BANK (open 10am - 2pm, Monday to Friday)
- NATIONWIDE (open 9.30am - 2pm, Monday to Saturday)
- POUNDLAND (HIGH STREET) (open 8am - 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Open 10am - 4pm on Sunday)
- REVITAL (open 10am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday. Open 11am - 4pm on Sunday)
- SANTANDER (open 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday)
- SKIPTON BUILDING SOCIETY (open 9.30am - 1pm, Monday to Friday)
- SPECSAVERS OPTICIANS (open 9am - 5.30pm, Monday - Saturday. Open 10.30am - 4.30pm on Sunday. Open for essential and urgent services only.)
- THE CO-OPERATIVE BANK (open 9.30am - 5pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. Open 9.30am - 3pm on Tuesday)
- TSB (open 9.30am - 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. Open 9am - 1pm on Saturday)
- YORKSHIRE BUILDING SOCIETY (open 9.30am - 2.30pm, Monday to Friday)

FUNERAL SERVICES

The Co-operative Funeralcare - We are still open however we are not open to the public unless by appointment in which the social distancing regulations needs to be adhered.

The changes to funerals at the moment are that we have had to withdraw the Limousine from funerals as we cannot enforce the social distancing with passengers in the vehicles.

Our Florist have ceased trading due to not being able to source Flowers from our suppliers in Holland.

Solihull MBC will only allow 6 Mourners to attend any funeral services. All non essential services have been cancelled for example Witness scattering of ashes and Interments of cremated Remains.

National Association of Funeral Directors - Please see advice funeral advice here: https://nafd.org.uk/funeral-advice/

ALDI - Aldi have adjusted their opening times to 8am - 8pm (Monday - Saturday) and 10am - 4pm (Sunday).

MARKS & SPENCER - Operating within normal business hours. From Monday 23rd March until further notice the first hour of trade will be dedicated to supporting the elderly and the vulnerable (Monday & Thursday) and NHS & emergency workers (Tuesday & Friday). All deliveries are now only accepting contactless payments. The bra fitting services at this store is now no longer available. Collect By Car service is still fully operational. The M&S Café has been closed until further notice.

MORRISONS - Morrisons have introduced an NHS hour in all stores from 7am to 8am, Monday to Saturday for NHS workers to shop. New store opening hours will be 8am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday. On Sundays they'll be open as usual (10am - 4pm).

SAINSBURY'S - Sainsbury’s has introduced priority shopping times. 7:30-8am Mon to Sat reserved for NHS & social workers and 8am-9am every Mon, Weds & Fri for elderly and disabled customers. Sainsbury’s supermarkets will be open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Opening hours on Sunday will remain the same (11am - 5pm).

TESCO EXPRESS - Operating as normal. Opening hours remain 6am - 10pm daily.

WAITROSE & PARTNERS - Waitrose is creating a £1 million Community Support Fund to be used as direct aid for the communities you and theirr Partners live and work in. Waitrose stores will dedicate the first hour of opening as a priority shopping time for the elderly, the vulnerable and those who look after them. All Waitrose cafes and rotisseries have been closed. Sales of many in-demand products will be capped and we’ll close some stores early. 

Please click the image above for updates from Solihull town centre's health businesses.

A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses. Please click the image above to access the full list of schemes available and how to access them.

Please click the image above to read a business/employer Q&A, which includes information from the Government website with advice for businesses.

We've compiled a list of useful resources for you from online workouts to mental wellbeing tips and classes for the kids - see the full list by clicking the image above!

A full range of business support measures have been made available to UK businesses and employees.

The following page helps businesses find out how to access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

• Mortgage lenders have agreed they will support customers that are experiencing issues with their finances as a result of COVID-19, including through payment holidays of up to 3 months. This will give people the necessary time to recover and ensure they do not have to pay a penny towards their mortgage in the interim.
  
  
• Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) will now be available for eligible individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 or those who are unable to work because they are self-isolating in line with Government advice. This is in addition to the change announced by the Prime Minister that SSP will be payable from day 1 instead of day 4 for affected individuals.
  
  
• Those who are not eligible for SSP, for example the self-employed or people earning below the Lower Earnings Limit of £118 per week, can now more easily make a claim for Universal Credit or Contributory Employment and Support Allowance.
  
  
• The Government has announced a new £500 million Hardship Fund so Local Authorities can support economically vulnerable people and households.
  
  

• A taxable grant will be paid to the self-employed or partnerships, worth 80% of their profits up to a cap of £2,500 per month. Initially, this will be available for three months in one lump-sum payment, and will start to be paid from the beginning of June. Click here for more information.
  
  

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The West Midlands Network are working with operators to keep essential services operating. There will be some reductions in service to bus and rail timetables. The advice is: Stay at home. Do not travel unless it is absolutely essential. This is to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives.

View the latest updates from transport operators here

FOR BUSINESSES:

• For latest Solihull Council information please see their Solihull For Success website here: https://www.solihullforsuccess.com/News/Coronavirus-COVID-19-Guidance-for-Businesses. If you require any additional help or support or have any questions around discounted Business Rates, the Council's Business Rates Team will be able to help – their number is 0121 704 8175.
  
  

• You can contact the government’s Business Support Helpline for free advice.

  Business Support Helpline (England)
  Telephone: 0300 456 3565
  Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
  
  

• You can also find free support, advice and sources of finance through your local growth hub - Greater Birmingham & Solihull.
  
  Email them at support@gbslepgrowthhub.co.uk or call them on 0800 032 3488. Their business resilience Account Managers will discuss with you how their services may be able to help your business throughout this period.

FOR INDIVIDUALS:

• • Stay at home for 7 days if you have either a high temperature or a new continuous cough.

    If you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms. This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious.

    Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

    You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

    Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.

  • If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.
    

NEW POLICE POWERS:

The government has made new public health regulations strengthening police enforcement powers in England, to reduce the spread of coronavirus, protect the NHS and save lives.

To ensure people stay at home and avoid non-essential travel, from today, if members of the public do not comply the police may; instruct them to go home, leave an area or disperse; ensure parents are taking necessary steps to stop their children breaking these rules; issue a fixed penalty notice of £60, which will be lowered to £30 if paid within 14 days; issue a fixed penalty notice of £120 for second time offenders, doubling on each further repeat offence.

For more details, please click here

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