Student criticises 'new normal' as non-essential shops re-open in Hemel Hempstead

Last week, as non-essential shops re-opened a number of measures were put in place in the town centre to ensure the safety of shoppers and staff.

They include social distancing signs around the town, on the floor, on doors and lampposts, a one way system around the town centre and shopping centres and restrictions on the number of customers inside shops.

The student, who does not wish to be named, said: "As a 23-year-old student and part time worker, I'm pretty disturbed by what I have seen over this COVID-19 issue and the new normal so called for the shops, while walking to my part time job, I have to walk through the town as it's easiest and quickest, as I'm not allowed to store my skateboard nor do I have a locker due to this nonsense.

"I walked up the wrong way on Monday - I stopped to look in H&M, I was shouted at by somebody who ordered me to walk the whole way around as I went to the shut doors, I only had to walk back about 9ft or so but I complied, I missed the entrance to go in and backed up a couple of foot to go in when I was again ordered to walk back around - I refused to, to which I got the usual reply, doing so may cost lives etc.

"I walked to my job today and was stopped because I went the wrong way, the signposting is poor - you have to have eyes on the ground to the side, up in the air, I was ordered to go around the people roundabout, to which I said others are going the wrong way, he made me do this by threatening to call security, I commented on the way around that this is becoming a dictatorship and its abnormal to which he replied goodday sir - sarcastically.

"This isn't new either, I've worked all the way through this debacle - I've been shouted at in Boots for touching the screen by accident, I've been escorted back to the start in Tesco, Jarmans Park, because I walked up the aisle the wrong way twice.

"I've been given a warning in Sainsbury's Apsley Mills - the crime??? Because I high fived with somebody I knew - we did not even touch hands, we did an air high five, my friends are experiencing similar things also.

"This behaviour is disturbing as its being accepted and I can only see this leading to resentment, shops being doomed to closure, my fears are that the town - every town - is going to face crisis in the later months of 2020, imagine Christmas shopping with queues, being ordered to sanitise your hands while its cold and frosty.

"The new normal is abnormal and a scary dystopian nightmare, also the mask wearing - it's unhealthy and I refuse, having hayfever, my doctor deems me not suitable for masks but said they are unable to prescribe help at present."

In a joint statement Hemel Hempstead Business Improvement District (BID), The Marlowes Shopping Centre and Riverside Shopping Centre said: "The BID, Dacorum Borough Council, Riverside Shopping Centre, Saunders Market and The Marlowes Shopping Centre have been working together to ensure the town centre reopens as safely as possible.

"We understand that the new restrictions in the town, and across the country, can be stressful for people whilst they adjust.

"However, these measures are put in place to help visitors navigate their way around the town as safely as possible.

"One way systems ensure that there is space to walk around without the worry of people walking towards you and not keeping their distance.

"We have placed signage on the floor, on lamp posts and on barriers to provide as much visibility to the rules as possible, however we know that not everyone will see or understand the signs, and so at peak times when there is a high volume of visitors staff are available at Riverside and in the Marlowes centre to redirect people if needed.

"The businesses in the town centre have put in a considerable amount of effort to reopen safely, calmly and in line with government guidance.

"We are all learning what the new 'normal' is, and patience is appreciated while we all settle into the new systems that are put into place. #HemelTogether."

The Gazette approached Dacorum Borough Council for a response but the authority declined to comment.

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