06/11/2020
This was the response received from Surrey Trading Standards when I asked them why Carpetright were allowed to open when we had to close.
Please contact them to complain. Why should large retailers bend the rules when small independent shops are foreced to close.
Thanks for contacting Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Business Advice.
I understand that you have concerns that two named suppliers of floor coverings are currently operating during these strange times. I understand that you consider that these are outside the current legal restrictions.
I am sure that you will appreciate that I cannot comment on any contact with a third party that we or any other local authority may have had with a specific trader.
With regards to your own business, I don’t know if you are aware of the current government guidance to what can and can’t open. There is also legislation that backs this guidance up. I have added a link to the guidance here. If you consider that your business is one of those that can remain open under that guidance, then you may be able to open.
In the event that we receive information that you were to be open, and we considered that you should not be, we would contact you to establish on what basis that you were open. We have a number of options with regards to achieving compliance (ensuring no breach of legislation). Issuing a fine is one of those, albeit one that we don’t use lightly. A fine would not normally be our first action, rather than offering advice.
We do have an enforcement policy, which can be accessed using this link to our website.
I hope that helps to answer your question at least to an extent.
Please do contact us if you would like further information.
Best regards, Tim
Duty Officer - Business Advice Line
Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Service
Consort House
5-7 Queensway
Redhill
RH1 1YB