Green light for Blackpool's car dealerships to reopen

The plans were announced last night as part of a press conference held by Boris Johnson.

Some of the resort's car dealerships were already gearing up to reopen ahead of the official announcement and said they will be introducing measures to ensure people could self-distance in showrooms.

Marshall Mercedes-Benz of Blackpool on Ashworth Road said it's looking forward to reopening its dealership.

A spokesman for Marshall Motor Group said: "In accordance with the latest Government guidance announced yesterday, our showrooms will reopen from Monday, June 1.

"We have been working on our detailed reactivation plans for a number of weeks with the safety and security of our colleagues and customers at the heart of those plans.

"We are confident that, in accordance with the Prime Minister's announcement, our businesses are Covid-19 secure and we look forward to reopening our sales operations from June 1."

Blackpool Volkswagen on Ashworth Road also announced it would be reopening on June 1 with changes designed to promote self-distancing.

A spokesman for Lookers, which runs the dealership, said: "After reviewing government guidance and our internal practices, we are pleased to announce that our showrooms in England will be re-opening fully on Monday, June 1.

"We are introducing a number of changes to help keep everyone safe."

The spokesman said these include hand sanitising products, colour coded signs or arrows and cars will be fitted with steering wheel and gear knob covers.

The planned reopening of dealerships comes after the UK saw a 97 per cent decrease in new car registrations last month due to the closures. Just over 4,000 new cars were registered - the fewest since 1946. However, industry observers expect a spike in sales when businesses reopen.

In reaction to the government's guidance that car dealers can open, James Hind, founder and CEO of Carwow said: "We've seen a significant increase week on week throughout May in consumers looking to buy a new car on carwow with activity on the site at levels now above what we'd have expected in a normal May; there is no doubt that demand is there.

"It's unsurprising that consumers are increasingly recognising the benefits of owning their own car given the ongoing need for social distancing, and government advice to avoid public transport where possible.

“We know many dealerships have been working hard to get ready in anticipation of reopening and have taken lots of safety precautions to ensure a safe experience. And for those consumers who aren't yet comfortable to visit the showroom, the majority of dealers are offering home delivery options as well."