Wiltshire Council is bringing back parking charges in all car parks, and on residential and on-street parking areas in the county from Monday, June 1. All parking permits and season tickets will also restart from this date, and parking wardens will enforce any parking contraventions in the county.

On March 25, the government gave NHS and care workers free use of all council parking and this will continue until further notice but the council also suspended all parking charges, including in residential areas, from March 27, to be reconsidered when the government issued new guidance.

Retail stores and shops to reopen

High street shops, department stores and shopping centres could reopen next month, if they are COVID-19 secure and can show that customers will be kept safe.

A Wiltshire Council statement said: “Outdoor markets and car showrooms will re-open from  June 1, as soon as they can meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers. As with garden centres, the risk of transmission of the virus is lower in outdoor and more open spaces. Car showrooms often have significant outdoor space and it is generally easier to apply social distancing.

“All other non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios and indoor markets, are expected to be able to re-open from  June 15 if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines, giving them three weeks to prepare.”