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Chronicle Live
National
Sonia Sharma

Take a look at how the Newcastle Quayside Market works with new Covid-safe rules

The Newcastle Quayside Market is up and running again for the first time in four months - and visitors can expect to see a number of changes there.

Newcastle City Council has introduced a string of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

These include a one-way system, which guides people alongside the stalls set up near the river. Visitors can start at the Tyne Bridge end and walk towards the Law Courts, and the return route is via the pavement across the road.

There are signs reminding people to maintain social distancing and hand sanitising stations are set up at both ends of the market as well as at individual stalls. In addition, a number of stallholders are wearing masks or visors.

At the moment, there are fewer stalls at the site - there were around 60 stands on Sunday. There is a rota system in place, allowing traders to operate on alternate weekends.

The council says it will continue to monitor social distancing measures and will see if the number of stalls can be increased in the future.

Heather Thurlaway, the authority's commercial property manager, said: "We are thrilled that the market has opened again. It's part of the city's history and it's lovely to see the city getting back to normal.

"Shoppers are down here and they are really pleased to see the stalls. We've got about 50 to 60 stalls down here, about half the usual, and we've got social distancing measures in place.

"It will take people a little while to get used to those but it's important. The virus is still with us."

The market will be open from 9am to 4pm every Sunday.

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