Keswick is open for business again – that is the positive message the town’s mayor is getting across by embarking on his own tour of every local shop that is now trading as lockdown eases.
Cllr Paul Titley has already visited around a third of Keswick’s 70-plus independent shops or chain stores as he seeks to buy something from every outlet in town in quickfire fashion.
“Everyone thought the Lake District and Keswick was shut but what better way to demonstrate that it is open than by going to every place and showing them that it is open,” he explained.
“It is good fun and everyone’s enjoying themselves. I have visited 26 so far and have taken a photo at each with the staff, usually with me wearing a mask in line with the town council’s wishes. I’m not wearing my mayoral chain as that would be a bit ostentatious,” added Cllr Titley, 67, who is putting his daily gallery up on his Facebook page.
His tour began last week with businesses that were allowed to trade during lockdown, like food, medicine and pet shops. The pace has stepped up this week, with non-essential shops selling goods such as clothes and books able to re-open from yesterday (Monday 15th June).
However, the experience has been slowing down Cllr Titley, 67, who is a keen runner. He said: “There are far too many cake shops in Keswick, plus three fish and chip shops. I can hardly move!
“But there is a very serious message in that I want people to know that the shops in Keswick are open – and that they sell an extremely wide range of goods. Most people think it is full of outdoor shops but we’ve got shops selling everything including things you can’t get anywhere else.
“They can’t survive in lockdown forever. We all did a good job keeping visitors away. Now we need to do a good job in bringing them back as soon as possible. It was quiet yesterday but customers are not going to come if they think the town is still closed. Keswick is more than the fells and we need visitors to come back slowly but surely.”
Keswick’s deputy mayor Cllr David Burn also sounded a positive note after walking through town to Friars Crag on Saturday. “People were playing crazy golf in Hope Park, most of our cafes were open for take-away drinks and ice creams and with more people around, there is a bit of a buzz in the town. We all need to continue to observe social distancing but what a joy Keswick was as things get a bit more back to normal,” said Cllr Burn.
