Sunday trading extension a 'cop-out' say business leaders

Recommendations to allow extended Sunday trading hours in Belfast during two weekends this summer have been described as a "cop-out", by the chief executive of Belfast Chamber.

A Belfast City Council committee has recommended that earlier opening should be allowed during the all-Ireland music and dance festival - Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann – in August.

A council survey suggested that eight out of 10 people in Belfast are in favour of extending Sunday trading hours during the summer months.

However, only a pilot scheme has been agreed for 2 and 9 August during the Fleadh.

Currently, large shops can only open in the afternoons between 13:00 and 18:00 BST.

A large store is defined as having a floor space of more than 280 square metres, which is slightly bigger than a tennis court.

Clare Guinness of Belfast Chamber, which which represents 600 businesses, said that "if policymakers recognise the economic opportunity that extended trading can bring during one major international event, then they should recognise the benefits it can deliver every week of the year".

The proposal, which includes the setting up of a working group to look at future plans, will go before the full 60-member council next month.

The introduction of the pilot scheme was supported by 15 of the 20 councillors at the committee.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) opposed the move.

The Alliance Party had wanted more Sundays to be allowed longer opening hours but in the end they accepted a Sinn Féin proposal for a temporary scheme.

Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann is the world's largest festival of Irish music and dance, and is expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors from 2-9 August.

Belfast City Council carried out an eight-week public consultation on Sunday opening hours earlier this year.

Guinness said that members of Belfast Chamber back the "modernising" of the trading laws, with the goal of making Belfast operate as "a genuine seven-day-a-week city".

"Belfast continues to be held back by an archaic approach that puts us at a disadvantage when compared to other UK and European cities," she added.

"This piecemeal approach sends the wrong message about Belfast's ambition.

"We should be creating a more welcoming, accessible and commercially vibrant city every Sunday."

Martina Connolly, CEO of Belfast One Business Improvement District, said she too was frustrated, claiming that the views of the public "have been ignored".

She said that the two Sunday during the fleadh "will not provide enough evidence to support the trial status".

"Belfast is already a destination. If we are to remain competitive as a regional and international destination, holiday resort status would help support that ambition," she said.

"This is about choice, and about listening to both the public and businesses - something that is clearly not reflected in today's outcome."

However, Glyn Roberts of Retail NI said he welcomed the decision, "as a compromise option".

After meeting Belfast City councillors on Friday he added that they "recommended that the council establish a Sunday morning working group to include business representatives, trade unions, arts groups and other key stakeholders.

"The remit of this group should be wider than just the city centre and include all parts of the city in a new plan for Sunday morning," he added.

In total there were 5,701 responses to the individual survey, including 3,773 in Belfast.

The results, published on Thursday, suggest a large majority of people in Belfast were in favour of extending the opening hours – 82% compared to 16%, with 2% neutral.

However, retail workers were split with only a slight majority of 48% compared to 47% in favour.

Overall, in terms of positive feedback about extended Sunday opening based on religious background, the results were:

• 91% of those from a Catholic background were positive
• 64% from Protestant background
• 85% from neither background

There was also a business survey which received 101 responses.

The replies suggested 57% supported longer opening hours on a Sunday with 38% against.

In order for the trading hours to be extended, the city needs to be officially designated as a holiday resort.

If that happens then during 18 Sundays between March and September, apart from Easter Sunday, a large shop could open.

Earlier in the week the Alliance councillor Michael Long urged all parties at City Hall to back the proposal to extend opening hours.

"This will be a huge boost for the city, giving tourists and visitors more options on how to spend Sunday mornings in Belfast," he said.

The Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) has voiced its opposition to the extension of Sunday trading hours.

In a submission to the council, a spokesperson said: "Our members have told us - time and time again - that they do not want Sunday trading laws to be extended."

Speaking to the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme Leighann Davidson, Usdaw area organiser, said an "overwhelming majority" of members opposed the proposals.

"In a recent survey, over 84% of our members said they do not wish for an extension of trading hours on a Sunday."

She added: "Our retail workers don't want this, they want time with their family, and parents and carers in particular will feel the brunt of this burden."

Davidson said that while protections were in place to ensure staff were not forced to work on a Sunday, there could often be "pressure to work" from some employers.

A full copy of the findings of the public consultation has been published on the council website.

During the past decade, Sunday trading opening hours have been debated on numerous occasions at City Hall. In 2017, a council committee voted 12-3 against longer opening.