A manager of an open-air shopping centre warns it could be barricaded off if it becomes overrun with people next week.

The Whitefriars complex in Canterbury, which boasts dozens of big-name stores, has been running a "soft one-way" system for the past few weeks.

But with so many shops set to reopen at once on Monday, the task of keeping different queues distanced from each other, while also keeping footfall flowing, will prove to be difficult.

Speaking in a Canterbury Connected Business Improvement District (BID) traders webinar session, Whitefriars manager Mark Stuart said the shopping centre could be barricaded off if it is "overrun" with shoppers.

"Trying to enforce social distancing measures here that have been adopted in Bluewater is really challenging as customers are free-flowing," he said.

"In a closed centre you can enforce slightly stricter controls than we can here.

"Putting up the barricades will be the last resort and we will try control the volumes coming in. I don't think we'll get to that point - hopefully we'll be able to work with tenants.

"The queue at Tesco goes in front of five other shops so plans will be adjusted.

"I can't manage 50 or 60 queues so everyone is going to have to work together."

Fenwick manager Simon Youden warned traders to anticipate a "rollercoaster ride" as he revealed his department store will operate a one-way system and be open to 200 customers at a time, who will be encouraged to use hand sanitiser upon entry.

"We could open and then close," he said. "You look at some of the centres in Italy and France - they have opened and then closed again because of a cluster outbreak.

"We have to be really steady and shouldn't go gung-ho."

Marks and Spencer manager Maxine Dawes said: "From our experience, trying to make customers do a one-way trip round the store is quite challenging - it will be a big challenge for a lot of stores especially when you are on tight numbers of staff.

"If we can get everybody singing from the same hymn sheet as to stores being one-way and limiting the number of people in a shop, then we'll be in it together and it'll work."

Four public toilets in Canterbury will be open for use from Monday, while all three park and ride car parks will reopen at a cost of 50p per day.

The park and ride buses will not be running but shoppers and workers will be able to leave their car and find their own way into the city.

Parking tariffs at Holmans Meadow and Castle Street multi-storey car parks will be capped at £3.50 per day. The reduced charges will not be permanent but will temporarily offer an alternative for the closed park and ride bus service.

Monday will also mark the first time many shoppers and retail workers can use the controversial £9.1 million multi-storey in Station Road West, which will also be running at £3.50-per-day cost.

Distance markers spaced two metres apart will be stuck on the ground and key streets will be jet-washed in an effort to enhance cleanliness.

New signs reminding shoppers to keep apart have been installed, while fewer market stallholders and street traders will be allowed to set up in for the foreseeable future.

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