Traders issue plea to Executive: ‘We need a date for reopening shops to survive’

Retailers and chambers of commerce from across Northern Ireland have issued a powerful plea to the Executive to give them a date to reopen shops to ensure their survival.
By The Newsroom
Published 4th Jun 2020, 05:55 BST
Traders have asked for a date to reopen shopsTraders have asked for a date to reopen shops
Traders have asked for a date to reopen shops

The groups have released a new report ‘Fighting Back: The Way Back for Retail in Northern Ireland’ which has outlined the challenges and support needed to get high streets and shopping destinations across Northern Ireland up and running. The business groups say the consequences of not doing so soon will be significant.

Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said: “This is make or break time for retailers across Northern Ireland as the longer that this lockdown goes on the harder it will be for them to reopen.

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“Retail can be a springboard for the economy to bounce back but they must be able to open.”

Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive of Belfast Chamber said “Retail has been one of the sectors hardest hit by the restrictions imposed to help stop the spread of Covid-19. The Executive’s decision to allow some non-food retailers to reopen from June 8 is a welcome step in the right direction.

“With hotels now working towards a reopening date of July 20, it is important that the rest of retail is also given a date when it can start trading again.

The group, made up of the NI Retail Consortium, Belfast Chamber, and the chambers of Londonderry, Newry, Bangor, Newtownards, Holywood, Lisburn, Ballymena, Causeway, Banbridge, Portadown and Retail NI, has highlighted the partnership approach needed to ensure the successful reopening. They have asked for a multiagency approach including government departments, local councils and the PSNI to deliver support including:

• A full timeframe to let retailers prepare to open.

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• A tapering off of financial support rather than a quick stop that will provide a shock to the industry that will be hard to absorb.

• Support in safely getting shoppers to and through our towns and cities.

• The repurposing and reimaging of public space to ensure satisfactory space exists for queuing customers and pedestrian movement

• Unequivocal guidance to the public about shopping during this period and to encourage them back to our shopping destinations

• A NI version of the £50m Reopening High Streets Safely Fund to allow local Councils and retailers to implement plans for the safe reopening of city centres and high streets.

Related topics:TradersNorthern IrelandRetailersSimon Hamilton