Business owner has ‘lost all confidence’ in Stormont over roadmap out of lockdown

The roadmap was outlined in the Assembly on Tuesday evening but quickly came in for criticism for failing to offer either indicative dates for the reopening of society, or clear criteria that would need to be met to allow that to happen.

One restaurant owner told the News Letter on Wednesday morning that he is now at an “all-time low” following the publication of the blueprint, while another said he has “lost all confidence” in the Executive.

This follows criticism from groups such as the Belfast and Londondery Chambers of Commerce, Retail NI, the Federation of Small Businesses and politicians such as Green MLA Rachel Woods and TUV MLA Jim Allister.

Stevie Higginson, who runs the Square Bistro in Lisburn, said: “I knew there wasn’t going to be dates attached and I wasn’t expecting them to set out the data because they’ve kept that hidden all along.

No surprises. I’ve just lost all confidence in them now really.”

He continued: “I’ve just got to keep the head down now and try and stay afloat. I’m not the only one. The whole industry is in that position. The Executive hasn’t even come and asked the sector to engage with us, not at all, so it’s not surprising.

“We need dates to work to, we need a plan. We’ve got to get the guys back in, we’ve got to get the place all cleaned, we’ve got to get stock in, we’ve got to do menus, we’ve got to try and get money to buy stock. All that kind of thing has to be done and without a date, we’re just stabbing in the dark. We have no timeframe, nothing, and we can’t even guess at it because that lot up there could do anything.”

Ian Clyde, who runs the Bronte Steakhouse in Banbridge, said: “It’s not worth the paper it’s printed on to be quite honest. I’m at an all-time-low.

“We’re no further forward. I don’t know any more today than what I knew on Monday.”

Mr Clyde continued: “I’m panicking because they could turn around and open us in two weeks and we won’t be ready, or it could be months away. It’s hard to put into words without getting angry, and if I get angry I’ll start cursing which isn’t going to help anyone.

“It doesn’t tell us that we could open by a certain date, if cases are under a certain number. There’s nothing like that. They haven’t told us how many people need to take the vaccine to make it safe. Nothing.”

He added: “You can’t plan. I had my staff on to me yesterday looking to find out what is going on. I had to say you know as much as I do. I wish I had answers for them.”

Michael Deane, a well-known chef who owns a number of restaurants in Northern Ireland, revealed during a radio interview yesterday that he is losing £30,000 per month from having to stay closed.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster on Wednesday morning, Mr Deane was also highly critical of the lack of information contained in the Executive’s plan.

“We want dates,” he said.

“The way in which the plan was delivered on Tuesday was a charade and it was full of mumbo jumbo.

“I feel none the wiser for having read the plan.”

After the plan was made public on Tuesday, First Minister Arlene Foster defended one of her MPs who described the plan as “clear as mud” — adding that if the DUP had been in charge it would have been “completely different”. She would have preferred schools “opened completely” on March 8.