Plea to authorities to relax shop lighting regulations in Belfast
News Letter - November 3, 1939 THERE was a further development the previous day in the movement to secure a relaxation of the lighting restrictions so as to enable shopkeepers to keep their windows lit until 6pm during the winter months, reported the News Letter.
Alderman D Lyle Hall, chairman of the Education Committee of the Belfast City Council, had initiated discussions on the matter during a meeting earlier in the week and the question had later been brought before the Police Committee. It was decided that the Town Clerk, Mr John Archer, should write to the authorities on the suggestion.
After the meeting Alderman Lyle told the News Letter's political correspondent that it was not just traders who were anxious to see some easing of the lighting regulations as they applied to Belfast and were keen to see something down as Christmas approached.
The paper's correspondent had spoken to several city traders to get their impressions. One had told him: "As traders we feel that, if it is permissible for moving objects like tramcars and motor cars to be lit, stationary objects, which are can be protected more easily, should be allowed a certain amount of lighting. If blue lights were used in windows and the sunshades were lowered there would, I think, be little danger, and the light thus allowed would also help to make the footpaths safer. Certainly no light would be visible from above."
Another trader told the paper's correspondent that they thought there was no need to have shops after dusk. They said: "Personally, I think it would be wisest to close shops in the centre of the city at dusk. From experience of the past few Saturdays, it is evident that when we get to the depth of winter few people will come into town in the afternoon."
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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