TAVISTOCK traders are busier than rivals in Plymouth city centre, according to town BID director Colin Kirk-Potter.

The West Devon town centre has seen a surge of shoppers during the summer despite social distancing and other restrictions imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

By contrast, shopping centres in cities such as Plymouth and Exeter have seen a massive slump in footfall, with some stores being reported as practically deserted.

One Tavistock shopper, who visited the city centre during the week, said: ‘I really couldn’t believe how quiet it was. It was really quite sad. On most days, you’d expect the city centre to be at least busy, if not heaving with people and there was hardly anyone around.

‘Some of the shops were practically empty and it was like a ghost town. I might as well have stayed home, to be honest.’

However, Mr Kirk-Potter, who runs Run Venture in West Street, said Tavistock town centre had been busy and added: ‘We are opening up a store in Honiton and it was busy there as well. I popped into Exeter while I was in the area and it was dead.

‘I haven’t been to Plymouth, but I’ve heard similar reports from there, although I would expect the Barbican to still be busy.’

He said efforts by traders and the local council to maximise social distancing, both in stores and on the pavements and provide sanitising equipment had helped to boost customer confidence that Tavistock was a safe place to shop.

Mr Kirk-Potter said good customer service had also ensured that shoppers had continued to visit Tavistock despite the Coronavirus crisis.

He added: ‘I think confidence in the town is good – it’s busy and there are people in the town. We (Run Venture) have been extremely busy. Sadly, some people are losing their jobs, but we are actually employing people.

‘We’ve had people in from Kent, who were on their holidays and customers from Barnstaple, who decide to make a day of it and go to a local cafe, or the Pannier Market and spend money around the town.’

But he added: ‘I think we have to continue the hard work that has been done and not take our eyes off the ball.

‘People should remain vigilant. Without wanting to frighten anyone, this (Covid-19) is going to stay with us forever, like some kind of ‘flu and the key is for people to remain vigilant.’