News

The cost to traders of parades and protests

Belfast city centre traders have lost an estimated £234 million in sales in the last year because of parades and protests. a report for talks chairman Richard Haass has revealed the cost to struggling traders in the past year of loyalist parades and flag protests. The report, which has been seen by the Irish News, also details how non-contentious events are also seriously damaging the city centre economy. Traders are reporting huge losses for st Patrick's Day, Gay Pride and even the Olympic torch procession. Shoppers appear to be avoiding central Belfast for any event, even those where there is no prospect of violence. The submission prepared by Belfast Chamber of trade and Commerce shows exasperated traders are cutting staff numbers and struggling to explain to head offices in London why business is so poor.

It is feared that the scale of the losses may force some businesses to rethink their presence in the city centre.

In the last year, these businesses have been faced with 47 parades, events and flag protests.

It comes as secretary of state Theresa Villiers has urged loyalists planning to hold a massive parade in the city centre on one of the busiest shopping days of the year to "think again". a group calling itself loyal Peaceful Protesters has applied to bring up to 10,000 people and 40 bands into the city centre on November 30 to mark the first anniversary of a decision by Belfast City Council to limit flying the Union flag at city hall. Speaking after a meeting with

city centre traders yesterday, Ms Villiers said: "they have had many opportunities to make their point via protest, there are better ways to achieve what they want to achieve - that is through conversations and through the sort of dialogue that is going ahead under the auspices of Dr Haass." The report's authors recommend that the Parades Commission should be specifically required to consider the economic effects of parades and protests.