Coronavirus restrictions hitting NI city and town centre trade worse than anywhere else in UK

Retail data provider Springboard has found a greater drop-off in footfall in towns and cities in Northern Ireland than in any other part of the UK, with a drop of around 15% during the period from 9am to 5pm and a drop of nearly 30% after 5pm.

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts described the figures as “a stark illustration of the scale of the huge threat facing our high streets in Northern Ireland” as he appealed for government intervention to aid the ailing sector.

The so-called ‘circuit-breaker’ partial lockdown restrictions imposed on Northern Ireland earlier this month have forced the closure of the hospitality industry — with the exception of takeaway and delivery options — along with the closure of close-contact services such as hairdressing and beauty.

Retailers have been permitted to continue trading, but Retail NI have complained the restrictions imposed on other parts of the economy have had a knock-on impact on the sector.

“As we have said before, we have now moved from a high streets’ crisis to a full-blown emergency and the Executive needs to wake up to this,” Mr Roberts said.

“Translating this data means tens of thousands of jobs in retail, hospitality and the wider supply chain are at risk over the next few months.”

He continued: “Closing down the hospitality sector has been a hammer blow to our high streets with many of our members across Northern Ireland reporting a significant loss of trade and footfall.

“We have reports that some of our members have lost as much as 60% as a result of lost footfall.”

Financial support for sectors directly impacted by the circuit-breaker restrictions were announced by the Stormont Executive last week, and for those in the supply chain, but retailers have not been included in the support package.

“We have raised this issue with the Department for the Economy as their new support package aimed at businesses impacted by the closure of hospitality sector does not cover independent retail,” Mr Roberts said.

“As we approach Christmas, we need government at all levels to work with the retail sector to ensure that shoppers have the confidence to visit our high streets and to spend local.”

He added: “It is also vital for our high streets that our hospitality sector is allowed to reopen at the end of this current circuit breaker.”

A drop in footfall has been recorded across the UK by the Retail data specialist Springboard. The Springboard figures show that Northern Ireland has been most impacted by the drop.

9am-5pm footfall decline

• England regions (average) -2.1%;

• Wales -3.1% ;

• Scotland -4.4%;

• Northern Ireland -14.7%.

• UK average -2.8%

5pm onwards footfall decline

• England regions (average) -2.1%;

• Wales -15.3% ;

• Scotland -9.9%;

• Northern Ireland -29.7%.

• UK average -4.6%