VIDEO: New traffic lights system at Luton's The Mall to show when shoppers need to queue

Shopping centres up and down the country are preparing to re-open following the government’s announcement that non-essential retail can begin to trade again on Monday, June 15.

The Mall Luton has announced specific measures to ensure the safety of shoppers.

A new traffic light system will provide shoppers with a guide on how busy the centre is. Managers at the centre will use footfall technology to manage capacity and instigate green, amber or red alerts.

“Green means the centre is free flowing, with no queues to enter the centre – a good time to shop,” said Roy Greening, general manager of The Mall.

“Moving to amber means the centre is approaching capacity and visitors need to queue before being able to come in to the centre.

"Red means the centre has reached capacity and visitors will be required to queue outside until such time that we can safely allow them in.”

The traffic light status will be updated on the centre’s Facebook page facebook.com/themallluton and customers are urged to check there for the most up to date status before they visit.

Nearly all entrances to the centre will be open from Monday, with separate entrance and exit doors to maintain social distancing. The Bute street access (by Halifax) will become exit only, due to space constraints.

The entrance to the Thistle Hotel will remain closed until the venue re-opens.

A one-way system will guide shoppers to turn left when exiting shops and follow the arrow markers on the floor.

Sanitiser stations have been installed throughout the centre for customer use. An enhanced deep cleaning regime has also been implemented throughout the centre, at key touchpoints, including toilets and baby change facilities.

Lifts in the centre will be restricted to one household group at a time.

Car park chip coins will be cleaned after every use before being placed back into the dispenser machines, and all shoppers will be asked to use contactless payment methods wherever possible for their parking and in stores.

Mr Greening added: “We want everyone who chooses to visit The Mall to feel as safe as possible and ask our shoppers to please adhere to the government’s guidance on social distancing to help prevent the transmission of coronavirus, including of course staying at home should they have symptoms of Covid-19.

"We would also ask visitors to be polite and respectful to centre and retail staff who have had to adapt very quickly to support and implement these systems and precautions.”