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Coronavirus Kent: the county is full of ghost towns after the first week of lock down

By: Sophie Bird

Published: 06:00, 28 March 2020

Updated: 08:19, 28 March 2020

Everywhere in the county has become a ghost town after the country was asked to only go outside if necessary earlier this week.

Across Kent, areas usually packed with people are now empty, with just some shops selling "essential" items open.

High Street, Chatham during coronavirus
High Street, Chatham during coronavirus
Pentagon Shopping Centre, High Street, Chatham during coronavirus
Pentagon Shopping Centre, High Street, Chatham during coronavirus
Waterfront, Chatham during coronavirus
Dockside carpark, Chatham during coronavirus
Medway Tunnel during coronavirus
Dockside, Chatham during coronavirus
Dockside, Chatham during coronavirus
Dockside carpark, Chatham during coronavirus

Just a few days after the lockdown began, there are some signs of life in Chatham - at least around some of the shops still open.

Locals are keeping a respectful distance from one another in queues while they shop for groceries.

Areas with non-essential shops are practically vacant, with only a few people out for their daily walk or heading for work.

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This is especially true for the Pentagon Shopping Centre, where the only stores with people waiting to go inside are Sainsbury's and Boots.

The Dockside outlet is also quiet, with significantly fewer cars parked outside of the usually busy shopping centre and cinema.

The platforms at Maidstone West Station are deserted
Earl Street in Maidstone is empty
Fremlin Walk in Maidstone is deserted
An empty Mall Shopping Centre in Maidstone
The empty car park at Mote Park in Maidstone
The gates to Mote Park in Maidstone are locked
The gates to Mote Park in Maidstone are locked

In Maidstone, Week Street seems to be the only area which has retained shoppers and people out for their daily walk.

Fremlin Walk now only has its security team walking up and down the mall after all its shops recently shut.

The only stores hops still open in the Mall Shopping Centre were Wilkinsons and Greggs, with only a few customers visiting.

After the Prime Minister advised people to only travel when necessary, the platforms of Maidstone's train station were completely empty.

The public was also advised not to gather in parks, which is why the gates of Mote Park are now closed to vehicles.

Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507417)
Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507373)
Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507401)
Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507370)
Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507376)
Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507391)
Sittingbourne High Street on day one of the coronavirus lockdown (32507381)

It's a similar story in Sittingbourne, where its High Street is empty of its usual visitors.

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Even the bargeman statue has no one loitering around it during the day.

The Forum Shopping Centre is eerily quiet as many of its shop doors have closed for the foreseeable future.

A few businesses like the butchers, bakers, newsagents, greengrocers, chemists, pet shop and dry-cleaners have been allowed to stay open.

But local business have reported a drastic decrease in custom.

Sheerness ghost town as a result of the coronavirus scare
Sheerness ghost town as a result of the coronavirus scare
Sheerness ghost town as a result of the coronavirus scare
Sheerness ghost town as a result of the coronavirus scare
Sheerness ghost town as a result of the coronavirus scare - Tesco
Sheerness ghost town as a result of the coronavirus scare - KCC tip
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare
Leysdown in lockdown. No crowds on the Isle of Sheppey as a result of the coronavirus scare

Sea side towns are also seeing very few visitors. In Sheerness, the area around the clock tower is empty of beach goers and tourists.

Even the local large Tesco's is seeing very few shoppers rushing there for supplies.

There are some in Leysdown who are taking advantage of the local sea view on their daily walk with their families and pets.

However, the less scenic streets are still empty, with shutters drawn as far as the eye can see.

Eerie: an abandoned Biggin Street (32373957)
Cannon Street with the closed down Eight Bells and Subway (32373994)
The empty Dover Seafront
Ian Dalziel on an empty Dover seafront.
All shops on the seafront at Beach Street are closed at 9am on Wednesday
Deal High Street is a ghost town as shoppers isolate
Beach Street car par and the amusements arcade are closed
Most shops were closed in this section of Deal High Street except poundland, Superdrug and Woods Newsagent

Dover and Deal's town centres are empty at a time of year when beautiful sunny days would have people out in force enjoying the sites and scenery.

St James' Retail and Leisure Park in Dover is almost completely abandoned and some cafes have been able to stay open as long as they only serve takeaway meals.

Even the former High Street of the Year winner in Deal faces little footfall.

Deal Town Council also recently announced the Saturday Market will be closed for an indefinite period.

A spokesman added: "Although the market is an outdoor event the council was mindful that unlike supermarkets, butchers, greengrocers etc Deal Town Council does not have the resources to safely manage social distancing.

"It does not have powers to insist on cash free purchasing nor can it supply antibacterial gel and handwashing facilities for all."

For the latest coronavirus news and advice, click here

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