Macclesfield features as a case study in a guide to social distancing in public places as part of a package of coronavirus recovery support designed to help high streets get back on their feet.

The High Streets Task Force slidecast video has been created by the task force's lead researcher and Macclesfield resident Professor Cathy Parker.

She is Professor of Retail and Marketing Enterprise at Manchester Metropolitan University and Co-Chair of the Institute of Place Management, which runs the High Streets Task Force on behalf of the Government.

An international expert and leader in place management, Professor Parker told Macclesfield Nub News: "I chose Macclesfield as a case study because I knew it well, being a local.

"I had visited after lockdown so I could see, first hand, which parts of the town were being visited, and why.

"Macclesfield has also invested in automated footfall counting.

"This means there is accurate data on the number of people in the town, which is very useful to us researchers.

"It means I can comment on the basis of hard evidence, as well as the more anecdotal information I take in from visiting the town and talking to people."

The slidecast video considers the key principles of social distancing in public places, including how to consider capacity for distancing, and practical approaches as town and cities change under new Government restrictions.

As the new measures alter how people behave on high streets, those in charge of rethinking spaces must first understand how they will be used and then consider flexible and considerate interventions that help provide the best experience.

To support this thinking, Professor Parker looks at Government guidance for distancing in England, the changing 'centre of gravity' in towns and cities - providing the example of her home town - how to calculate capacity for social distancing in towns or high streets and practical guidance on implementing social distancing.

Professor Parker has not been into Macclesfield since East Cheshire Council installed temporary social distancing measures in the town centre.

"I will be visiting on Saturday so I look forward to seeing what's been done.

"Nevertheless, Macclesfield already had a lot of pedestrianised areas so adapting for social distancing will be relatively easy," she added.

The High Street Task Force has launched a package of coronavirus recovery support for councils, business and community leaders in England, providing free access to online training programmes, webinars, data and intelligence on topics including recovery planning and coordination, public space and place marketing.

The support is part of the task force's four-year programme focusing on the long-term transformation of town and city centres and helping communities re-imagine and revitalise their high streets.