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Calls for Stormont financial help for Ardoyne traders as another two businesses close

Martin Fox was forced to his fruit shop at Ardoyne last week. Picture by Hugh Russell
Martin Fox was forced to his fruit shop at Ardoyne last week. Picture by Hugh Russell Martin Fox was forced to his fruit shop at Ardoyne last week. Picture by Hugh Russell

CALLS have been made for financial help from Stormont for struggling traders at the flashpoint Ardoyne shops in north Belfast.

SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon said she had written to Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir asking him to meet business owners and bring forward a financial hardship package.

It comes after another two businesses at Ardoyne have closed in recent weeks due to a lack of trade amid the ongoing tensions at the parade interface.

Traders whose businesses line the Crumlin Road have described how they have struggled with a dramatic drop in business as a result of repeated attempted marches and the permanent loyalist protest camp at the Twaddell interface with Ardoyne.

A few weeks ago a laundrette closed and just last week a fruit shop also shut.

Martin Fox said he was forced to finally pull the shutters on his business after just 18 months.

"Trade on the road has been terrible," he said.

"In the first couple of weeks when I first opened last February, trade wasn't too bad. Even though the camp at Twaddell has been there for three years, people were still coming over.

"But after last July, things really took a dip. Customers that would have come over were apparently told they were being watched, so I began to lose my trade.

"No-one is going to come over if they're facing intimidation."

Mr Fox hit out at the lack of support for small businesses, especially those located at interface areas such as Ardoyne.

"There's just no support from anyone, people don't care," he said.

"People like myself have invested heavily in their business and here I am closing with nothing to show for it, nothing.

"There are many other who have invested heavily in the area, yet there's no support from government, from our politicians.

"The main priority should be helping small businesses and especially those at flashpoint areas such as Ardoyne.

"Politicians should be saying, 'here's a serious flashpoint area, what can we do to help small businesses there' to stop them from closing. Extra emphasis should be put on this."

Ms Mallon said she had written to the finance minister calling for him to "urgently bring forward a financial hardship package"for Ardoyne traders.

"For three years these traders have been caught up in a parading dispute which they have played no part in and yet they are paying a heavy price for," she said.

"Their businesses are being destroyed by the impact of an illegal camp, nightly protests, a heavy police presence and the breakdown in community relations.

"When traders faced a loss of trade because of the flags protest, there was the 'Backin Belfast Campaign'.

"When businesses are affected by flooding, the Department of Finance gives them £1,000 because it recognises this situation was created outside their control.

"The same logic should apply to these traders at Ardoyne.

"We have called on the Finance Minister to bring forward a hardship package for these traders.

"If £21 million can be found to police the illegal camp impacting on their businesses, then surely a relatively tiny sum can be found to support these traders."