OVER half of the respondents from a fresh council consultation are against plans to extend Sunday trading hours in Belfast.
This Friday Belfast City Council's strategic policy and resources committee will once again consider designating Belfast as a 'holiday resort', which would allow large shops to extend their Sunday trading hours on up to 18 Sundays in any calendar year between March 1 and September 30 (excluding Easter Sunday).
The debate comes following the conclusion of a second consultation into the proposal.
The latest consultation, which closed on April 2 received 5,196 responses, with just over half (50.7 per cent) against designating Belfast as a holiday resort, 48.7 per cent for the move and 33 people failing to answer the question.
A previous consultation held last year received more than 2,400 responses, with 62 per cent in favour of the change, but the motion was strongly rejected by councillors by a vote of 12 to 3 against.
Combining the two consultations there is a slight majority (52.8 per cent) in favour of extending Sunday trading hours for large shops in the Belfast district, while there is a strong consensus among respondents in both surveys that Belfast would be more attractive as a tourist destination if the Sunday restrictions were removed.
Shop workers trade union Usdaw and independent retailers’ organisation Retail NI have joined together to pen an open letter to Belfast City Council opposing an extension to Sunday trading hours.
In their joint correspondence, John Hannet, Usdaw general secretary and Glyn Roberts, Retail NI chief executive believe if the proposal is passed the effects would be "detrimental to retail workers, their families, independent retailers and the wider community".
"Retail workers are already under immense pressure to work long hours with the one respite they have being the legally enforced shorter trading hours on a Sunday which allows them much needed time with their family and friends," they said.
"In Usdaw’s survey of retail workers, 94 per cent opposed the proposal; two thirds are already under pressure to work on Sundays and almost half have caring responsibilities that they are already struggling to fit around their work. Not only would the proposed change place extra pressure on retail workers, it would also have a damaging effect on small independent retailers (below 3000 sq ft) who can trade for those vital few hours on a Sunday morning."
The two organisations believe extended Sunday trading hours will result in a number of local community independent retailers closing and are keen to explore alternative options to improve Belfast's weekend economy. They have suggested a summit of all stakeholders to take a proper look at what Belfast offers to residents, visitors and tourists over the whole weekend.
Should the committee decide to recommend making the holiday resort designation, the decision must then be ratified by the full council. If this is agreed at the monthly meeting on May 1 the new trading laws would not take effect until at least June 1.
