Some retailers ‘better off closed’ due to circuit-breaker downturn

Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts told the News Letter that some of his organisation’s members have said they would have fared better if they had been ordered to shut by the Executive due to th downturn in business associated with the so-called ‘circuit-breaker’ restrictions.

Retailers have been permitted to continue operating throughout the four-week period of partial lockdown.

But the closure of bars, restaurants, cafes, hairdressers and other hospitality and close-contact businesses has had a knock-on effect on other parts of the economy due to reduced footfall in towns and cities across Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Executive is expected to announce a package of financial support for businesses later today.

Mr Roberts, speaking to the News Letter, said: “What we have been trying to focus on is trying to get those retailers who have been affected by the closure of the hospitality industry greater government support.”

On Wednesday, Mr Roberts said the restrictions now in place had been a “huge mistake”.

“Without a doubt, since last Friday’s shutdown of the hospitality sector members have reported a significant reduction in footfall and trade.”

Mr Roberts said his organisation had made that point to the Executive earlier on Thursday.

“This is something that is with the Executive Ministers, the support that can be given to businesses, and we look forward to seeing what they will announce,” he said.

“There is no dobt that those businesses that can open but who have lost trade, lost footfall will need support.”

He continued: “There are some retailers who have said they would have been better off closed.

“I understand that point but what we have been focussing on is trying to get greater help from the Executive.

“That is why we were so opposed to closing the hospitality sector, because the impact goes far beyond just that sector.

“It has an impact on city centres, on high streets, and of course the supply chain as well.”

The manager of Londonderry’s City Centre Initiative, meanwhile, expresssed a similar view.

Jim Roddy said the “indirect result of restrictions being placed on all these other sectors is driving city centre retail into the ground” in an interview with BBC Radio Foyle.

He continued: ““I support our executive ministers in all that they do to try to look after the health and wellbeing of our citizens. But in this instance, our city centre is facing a real crisis.

“The net result of that is that people will lose their jobs, these shops will shut up.”