Lack of dates for retail and hospitality sectors ‘bitterly disappointing’
STORMONT’S failure to include dates for the reopening of businesses in its latest lockdown easing plan is a “missed opportunity”, retail leaders have said.
A number of relaxations were announced yesterday, including the return of primary school pupils and the end of the stay-at-home policy.
However, there was little joy for retail and hospitality as the Executive once again failed to provide dates for reopening.
While non-essential retailers will be allowed to operate on a click-and-collect basis from next month, industry leaders said the plans did not go far enough.
Garden centres and plant nurseries can offer the service from April 1, while all non-essential retailers can offer clickand-collect from April 12.
Hospitality Ulster chief executive Colin Neill called for the data behind decisions to be published. He said there were growing concerns that decisions “are based on bias, particularly a historical bias against premises selling alcohol”.
“The people that work in it have a right to see the data that is being used to make decisions,” Mr Neill added.
“This is a call for transparency in the decision-making process. We need to develop a level of faith that the reopening programme, and any future Covid restrictions, are based on real and accurate data. How do we know if we don’t have the information? Let us see it.
“We need the Government to engage with us, listen to us and understand the economic levers that need to be pulled.”
Belfast Chamber chief executive Simon Hamilton agreed with Mr Neill, saying the Executive’s announcement “totally underwhelms”.
“No indicative dates for reopening and no transparency on what data is being used to move us through the steps. Another opportunity to give businesses hope missed,” the former DUP minister added.
Retail NI’S Glyn Roberts said that while click-and-collect services would provide a “much-needed lifeline”, the relaxations “fall very short”. “Why is it the Scottish Government can give dates for these vital sectors to reopen, yet our Executive cannot?” he asked.
“Non-essential retail should have been given a date in April to reopen alongside immediate preparation to ensure our high streets have Covid marshals and public hand sanitisers in place to limit transmission.
“This is a bitterly disappointing decision which lets down thousands of struggling small business owners and their staff.”
Roger Pollen, the head of the Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland, also welcomed the decision on clickand-collect but said it was “not a game-changer”.
“While these moves represent some progress, given the continued success of the vaccine programme and vast improvement in the public health situation, we wish to see greater easements in the coming weeks,” he added.
Londonderry Chamber president Dawn Mclaughlin, meanwhile, questioned the 11-day gap between allowing click-and-collect for garden centres and other businesses.
She said it was “difficult to understand and it is disappointing that all shops will not be able to operate this vital service from the same day”.
WITH St Patrick’s Day celebrations being held virtually this week, the cost of cancelling major tourism events for a second year continues to soar.
In January the North West 200 was cancelled, while Mid Ulster Council is already considering support for a virtual Twelfth of July.
It’s expected the Auld Lammas Fair in Ballycastle will also be cancelled for a second year.
The event normally attracts thousands of people to the seaside town.
Ulster University economist Dr Esmond Birnie said the cost to the local economy would easily run into the millions.
“It’s obviously another blow to the local tourism sector, to shops, and of course many of these places are shut anyway because of the restrictions,” he added.
“Most of the shops have been shut since Christmas, so this is adding to the lost revenue.
“And as we’re seeing all the time, various establishments are shutting down permanently. We saw Thorntons shut all their physical shops in the UK, but obviously we’ve lost a lot of chains of retailers.
“I imagine there will be a lot of cafes and restaurants — when the restrictions are lifted — who sadly will have given up.”
Asked about what support may be needed for organisers of cancelled events, he said: “I suppose there is a question of how to incentivise or stimulate people back on to the high street to spend.
“There is this proposal of the
Stormont voucher scheme, even though we’re not quite sure how big it will be. It’s obviously been put on hold until the public health situation permits.
“There’s also the possibility of credit towards a night in a hotel or a major tourism attraction.
“The problem is that so much money has been spent already, so there is a limit as to how many incentives should you provide from a public purse that will already be very stretched next year.”
It comes after reports Causeway Coast and Glens Borough
Council is preparing to hand out £400,000 to organisers of summer festivals and events whether or not they go ahead in 2021.
On Tuesday evening the council’s leisure and development committee was due to approve the tourism event funding for successful applicants.
This was for those who wished to postpone their event for one year to proceed with a reduced format in 2021/22.
The report presented to committee members stated grants totalling £396,000 should be paid, with international youth football tournament Supercupni receiving £100,000.
The recommended payouts to other events would see the Stendhal Festival in Limavady receive £99,000; Ballylough Living History £70,125; Coleraine & District Motor Club Ltd (NW200) £59,887; Armoy Road Race £50,550, and North Antrim Agricultural Association Ltd (Ballymoney Show) £9,644.
Councillors were due to hear last night the unpredictability of the pandemic made staging the Auld Lammas Fair this year impossible.