This is when Wickes in Hailsham will reopen for a trial period

The home improvement retailer, in Diplocks Way, is set to reopen today (Thursday April 30), after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus pandemic, and will also have shorter opening times.

The store will be open from 7am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday.

A Wickes spokesperson outlined the new social distancing measures which, they said, will allow customers to shop ‘safely’ and colleagues to be ‘protected’.

The spokesperson said, “Each of the stores will limit the number of customers in the shop at any one time, while clear signage and floor markers will advise customers to keep two metres apart.

“Each shop has installed perspex screens at the tills and service stations, and colleagues on the shop floor will be using personal protective equipment.

“Sanitising stations have been installed for customer use and the stores will only accept card and contactless payments.”

Services such as timber cutting and paint mixing, according to the spokesperson, will not be available during the trial period and showroom kitchen and bathroom design appointments are only available to customers virtually.

The spokesperson said Wickes initially closed for business at the end of March because of government social distancing guidelines, and said the importance of customers’ and staff health was at the ‘forefront’.

The store’s website remains open for customers, with options available for Click and Collect and home delivery orders across the country.

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