NI traders: Another coronavirus lockdown could put us out of business

The possibility of local lockdowns being introduced in parts of Northern Ireland was raised by Health Minister Robin Swann earlier this week following a rise in the number of coronavirus cases.

Worst impacted is the Mid and East Antrim Council area, where 80 new cases have been recorded in the past week.

Ballymena Chamber of Commerce president Eugene Reid told the News Letter that if lockdown restrictions are imposed on the area, businesses could struggle.

“I follow the news very closely and these things are choreographed very closely,” Mr Reid told the News Letter. “We don’t know what local lockdown might look like but Ballymena has had to be resilient over the years with Michelin, JT Gallagher and all those sorts of things.

“Ballymena has consistently had to bounce back from all those things. But the retail sector has been struggling. The lockdown has had a serious detrimental affect. The retail sector will be watching with bated breath because the last thing they want to see is another lockdown. We would struggle to bounce back from it.”

Eugene Diamond, a Ballymena newsagent, said: “It’s a possibility for any town but with us having those high statistics it could well be this area.

“Will it be a council-wide lockdown or will it be Ballymena, or will it be Larne, or will it be Carrick? It would be unfair if it’s an entire council area that’s so far flung.”

He continued: “It’s not going to be beneficial to any of us to have a lockdown. There are some businesses that still haven’t reopened. It is a problem and there’s going to be more people feeling the pinch. Locally owned businesses are going to find it very hard.

“The problem is, to be truthful and honest, people not adhering to the advice.”

Stephen Reynolds, the owner of Front Page pub and a board member of Hospitality Ulster, said: “This may well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for a lot of people.

“We’ve been locked down for 20-22 weeks now. It’s costing me £1,200 per week to stay closed. If the Northern Ireland Executive is going to tell us we have to remain closed, ultimately we’re going to see the demise of the Ulster/Irish pub, north and south.

“By forcing pubs – where it’s a controlled environment – to close they could be driving people to these house parties where these controls won’t exactly be a priority.”

He added: “It’s disastrous for the pub industry.”