Following NFDA’s communication with the Department for Transport, the Government confirmed on Tuesday 24 March that aftersales garages/workshops can stay open during the Coronavirus emergency.
On Sunday 22 March, NFDA sent a letter to Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP, Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, to highlight the association’s concerns with workshops opening during the Coronavirus outbreak.
On 23 March, the Government stepped up measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Guidance from the Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government states that retail and public premises expected to remain open must:
• Ensure a distance of two meters between customers and shop assistants; and
• Let people enter the shop only in small groups, to ensure that spaces are not crowded.
Garages are included in the list of ‘exceptions’ in the retail sector which can stay open. These include supermarkets, health shops, pharmacies, petrol stations, car rentals etc.
The latest guidance aligns with the Government previous statement describing key workers in the transport sector as “those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass.”
Aftersales workshops and their technicians will play an important role in ensuring that critical vehicles can continue to operate safely and efficiently during these challenging times.
The full Government guidance can be found here
