Cornwall Council public protectionofficers will patrol streets in Falmouth and beyondfrom this weekend to help support hospitality businessesin reopening safelyafter the lockdown.

Councilstaff will be on hand to offer advice to pubs, restaurants, bars, and takeaways as they welcome customers for the first time from this Saturday, July 4th.

Hospitality businesses including pubs, restaurants, bars, takeaways, hotels, bed and breakfasts, self-catering accommodation and visitor attractions can reopen from this weekend providedthey can comply with the Government's Covid secure guidelines.

Rob Nolan, Cornwall's cabinet member for environment and public protection, said:

"As our vital hospitality sector in Cornwall reopens for trade on Saturday our public protection teams will be out on the streets doing town centre walkthroughs giving safety advice, support and reassurance to businesses and the public during this momentous time.

"We are explaining, encouraging and supporting businesses to understand what they are required to do in order to reopen in a safe way that protects everyone from Coronavirus infection and which prevents or reduces the likelihood of any other untoward issues such as noise nuisance, littering and anti-social behaviour.

"Enforcement actions will only be called upon where businesses are clearly creating COVID-19 infection risks such as failing to manage social distancing and necessary hygiene controls or failing to monitor the business and customers that could create noise nuisance, littering and anti-social behaviour.

"Our primary aim is to help with business support and compliance with COVID 19 rules, so talk to our officers in the town centres when they are out and about, or get in touch with our business regulatory support team by phone or email."

The Council is reminding businesses of the key reopening requirementswhich include:

- A COVID-19 risk assessment for the business before reopening.

- A one metre-plus social distancing rule with mitigations.

- A limit to the number of staff and customers on-siteto ensure social distancing.

- A requirement to collect contact details for all customers to assist with the Government's Test, Track and Tracesystem.

- No live performances, including drama, comedy and music, to take place in front of a live audience.

- Taking steps to prevent people from raising their voices, for example refraining from playing music or broadcasts at a volume that make normal conversation difficult and couldencourage shouting.

- Premises, where close contact is highly likely such as nightclubs, must stay shut for now.

Businesses which have completed the necessary safety steps can display a Government poster showing they have complied.

For restaurants, cafes and pubs planning to place chairs and tables outside their premises from Saturday, Cornwall Council supports the use of outside areas, subject to risk assessments and it being safe to do so, in order to support social distancing.

Businesses must ensure that any use of an outside area does not block or impact on normal pedestrian traffic and should be respectful of neighbours.

The Council has said it is working with businesses to educate, inform and enforce where this is not done, under the existing licensing system.

Further licensing is required for the sale of alcohol (for consumption on or off the premises) and for supplying late night refreshment (hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am the next day).

New COVID-19 legislation is expected later this month which will require businesses to apply for a new permission known as a pavement licence.

This is likely to have a consultation requirement. As soon as this regulation is approved by Parliament Cornwall Council says it will write to businesses and town and parish councils to explain how the rules apply to them.