Horsham people urged to be respectful and responsible

Horsham District Council is asking that residents and visitors respect business owners and one another, protect the local outdoor environment, and enjoy all that the District has to offer safely.

A spokeswoman said: “Local retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses have worked hard to introduce COVID-safe measures in their shops and venues.

“It was not an easy task, especially as many of the measures put in place may change the way you interact with their services.

“The Council and its partners are urging customers and visitors to be kind and patient when supporting local businesses through these challenging times.”

When out and about in Horsham District, the Council is asking everyone to respect others and safety measures and protect the environment by following the tips below:

- Respect businesses and attractions. Be kind and patient when supporting local businesses. Always follow their guidelines, remember to check on their website ahead of visiting to understand any specific requirements for your visit.

- Respect wildlife. When exploring the countryside, it is best to keep dogs on a lead or under close control in fields of livestock, and do please stick to footpaths and bridleways so as not to disturb ground nesting birds and other wildlife. Nature may have recolonised some areas, so please tread carefully and look out for wildlife that has moved into unexpected places during lockdown.

- Respect local communities. Take your litter home with you if you’re visiting a park or open space. Try and stay as quiet as you can when leaving pubs, restaurants or small socially distanced gatherings.

- Protect yourself and others. Always follow hand washing guidance, and strict social distancing of two metres or one metre plus protection apart from others who are not in your household. Social distancing applies to all social interaction and is in place to help keep everyone safe.

- Protect local business. People working in retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses are doing all they can to help provide their services in a safe way. Please be kind and show compassion and empathy for those working to keep our high streets running.

- Protect the landscape by ensuring you are following the Countryside Code, which sets out how visitors to rural areas can behave safely and responsibly. Take a look at the following video with an updated Countryside Code, produced by Natural England.

- Enjoy supporting our local businesses. Many Horsham District businesses are now open, and we really encourage you to shop with them. Visit the Discover Horsham District and Visit Horsham websites for a range of wonderful local producers and businesses delivering local goods and services.

- Enjoy our beautiful parks and countryside by exploring local walks and cycle paths while maintaining social distancing. We know everyone has their favourite places to go – but if too many people go at once then social distancing becomes more difficult.

Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Paul Clarke said: “It is wonderful to see the District’s shops, cafes, restaurants and parks now open again to the public after many weeks in lockdown, and so many people getting out and about again to enjoy them.

“It has taken a lot of hard work on the part of business owners and council officers to ensure that all the required safety measures are in place to help people enjoy services safely.”

Mr Clarke said he is asking people to be ‘respectful and patient’ with shop and venue owners who are still adapting to new circumstances.

He added: “Additionally, I would also ask that when using parks and outdoor spaces, visitors take their litter home with them and are careful to observe social distancing measures when sharing public spaces with others.”

The council spokeswoman said: “If you are holding off from getting outside for now, or are self- isolating and unable to leave your home, you can enjoy and experience the very best of our District on Discover Horsham District’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter channels.”