Updated 12 April 2021

Roadmap out of lockdown

From 8 March, people in England will see restrictions start to lift and the government’s four-step roadmap offer a route back to a more normal life.

From 12 April, England will see the opening of:

• non-essential retail;
• personal care premises such as hairdressers and nail salons;
• public buildings, including libraries and community centres;
• indoor leisure facilities such as gyms (but only for use by people on their own or in household groups);
• most outdoor attractions and settings including outdoor hospitality venues, zoos, theme parks, and drive-in cinemas;
• self-contained accommodation such as campsites and holiday lets, where indoor facilities are not shared with other households, can also reopen;
• hospitality venues will be allowed to serve people outdoors at Step 2 and there will be no need for customers to order a substantial meal with alcoholic drinks and no curfew, although customers must order, eat and drink while seated (‘table service’). Wider social contact rules will apply in all these settings to prevent indoor mixing between different households.

From no earlier than 17 May, the government will look to continue easing limits on seeing friends and family wherever possible, allowing people to decide on the appropriate level of risk for their circumstances. This means that most legal restrictions on meeting others outdoors will be lifted - although gatherings of over 30 people will remain illegal. Indoors, the Rule of 6 or 2 households will apply.

If you have to head to the shops, follow our top tips for shopping safely

Non-essential shops have now reopened, as well as hospitality venues serving people outdoors.

Follow our top tips to help you shop safely over the next few weeks.

Don’t forget, every retailer will have carried out their own COVID-19 risk assessment and made changes to ensure you’re safe. Here’s some things to remember:

• Wear a face covering
• Wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitiser
• Try and shop at less busy times if you can - and only with your household/bubble.
• Be patient and follow the rules – there may be more queues and one-way systems in place, but it’s all done with your safety in mind
• If you have any symptoms of coronavirus – a persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of smell and taste - stay at home and self-isolate following the Government guidelines

What safety measures have been put in place?

• Bins are being regularly empty, with some in popular sports emptied more than four times a day. Extra public bulk bins have been put on the Hoe promenade. An extra electric street sweeper is in use to sort hygiene and urine issues. Cleaning teams are working seven days a week and an extra late shift to keep an eye on cleanliness and the bins. 
• Litter enforcement officers patrolling the waterfront and Barbican. To report broken glass and large amounts of litter, giving as much information about where and what as possible, and you can report a full bin here.
• Covid marshals will patrol the Barbican, the waterfront and parks, particularly weekends and Bank Holidays from 10am to midnight initially. Working alongside the police, they will help deal with anti-social behaviour and COVID regulations. Particular attention will be paid to making sure people stick to the rule of six and two households only limit.
• Taxi and street marshals on the Barbican and at Derry’s Cross ranks on Saturday nights and key dates to ensure COVID compliance and reduce disorder.   
• CCTV coverage across key locations, including the Hoe, and a CCTV mobile patrol vehicle will be out and staff in the CCTV control centre will monitor the city.
• A Public Space Protection Order is now in effect in Plymouth. This is not a blanket alcohol ban but makes it an offence for anyone who refuses to stop drinking alcohol or hand over bottles or cans believed to contain alcohol, when asked to do so by a police or authorised officer.
• A section 35 dispersal order can be used by police to ask people to leave certain locations to prevent disorder.
• A pop-up youth service to engage with youngsters.
• Visits from both council and police licensing staff to premises citywide to give advice and take enforcement action, where necessary. 
• Free permits for outside seating areas.
• Packs of information and updated guidance issued to hundreds of businesses. 

Are the public toilets open?

There are now 13 temporary loos on the Hoe, which are emptied daily and cleaned three times a day and two in Vauxhall Street car park. 

Toilets in the City Centre and the Waterfront are cleaned three times a day. There are three accessible toilets upstairs at Armada Way available from 8am to midnight for those with a radar key, up to 6pm for others.

Toilets around the Barbican remain open until 11pm.

Our toilet attendants work every day to monitor and report any issues.

Across the city there are plenty of toilets. Check the website for opening hours.

What are the changes to parking in Plymouth?

Plymouth’s car parks and on-street bays are now cash-free:

• In car parks this means that payment machines will no longer accept cash and instead you will have to pay by credit or debit card
• On-street parking will be paid for by RingGo, either via the mobile phone app, website or by phone.

Safe distancing markers around pay facilities have been refreshed.

Clear direction signs have been put up to direct you when you’re walking to and from your car in multi-storey car parks, including separate staircases designated up and down to reduce the likelihood of people getting too close

Lifts have been signed for safe distancing with only members of the same household to share lifts at any one time        

An enhanced cleaning regime has been introduced to car parks, with particular attention paid to areas people may touch – such as payment systems, stairwells, handrails, lift areas and doors.

The ‘click and collect’ 1 hour free parking within the three city centre car parks will end and parking charges are now back to usual.

What can I do to help?

If you or anyone in your household has symptoms of coronavirus, please stay at home and self-isolate

Remember to follow the social distancing guidelines set out by the Government and try to keep two metres away from people who are not from your own household

Wash your hands regularly, or use hand sanitiser when out and about

If you can, wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth in situations when it's hard to stay two metres away from people, such as in shops or on public transport

Follow social distancing and queueing instructions set out by businesses, and be mindful that you may have to wait to be allowed in to some stores to allow for a safe shopping experience.

You can find out which shops in the city centre are open on the Shop4Plymouth website.

Plymouth Market 

Non-essential shops have now reopened in Plymouth Market. Check the Plymouth Market website for more details.

Drake Circus Shopping Mall

Non-essential shops have now reopened in Drake Circus. Check the Drake Circus website for more details.