We re back in business );
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BUSINESSES in and around Henley are hoping to make up for lost time as they prepare to re-open on Monday.
Non-essential retailers, including clothes shops, are allowed to trade again, bringing some relief to the embattled high street hit by the coronavirus pandemic.
Hairdressers, beauty and nail salons and gyms can also open.
Pubs and restaurants can serve food and alcohol outdoors only. The rule of six up to six people, or two separate households will apply, as will social distancing rules and the wearing of a face masks.
It will be the first time in months that these many businesses have been able to earn any money.
Pubs hope to avoid April showers );
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PUBS and restaurants are proceeding with caution after being given a roadmap for the lifting of coronavirus measures.
Although they can start to serve customers from April 12, this will be outdoors only for at least a month.
The possibility of trade being heavily dependent on weather means some have decided to wait until May to bring staff back and re-open fully.
Limits on social contact are set to remain until June, which means covid safety measures will restrict the number of customers for some time.
Jayne Worrall, who runs the Bull pub in Wargrave, only has a small garden area with six tables so she has decided to wait until May 17 when customers are expected to be allowed indoors.
‘You learn to live with the river’ );
THE worst flooding in seven years hit the Henley area this week.
Low-lying land was covered in water after the River Thames and River Loddon burst their banks following days of heavy rain that came a week after snowfall.
Some of the worst-hit areas included Wargave, where the water was waist deep in places and some houses were only accessible by boat, and Shiplake, where gardens and nearby fields were submerged.
Lash Brook overflowed and residents wore wellingtons in order to leave their homes. This is the area where Taylor Wimpey is planning to pump drainage water from its Regency Place development of 95 homes in Reading Road against the wishes of villagers.