Belfast says 'yes' to extension of Sunday trading hours

About eight out of 10 people in Belfast are in favour of extending Sunday trading hours during the summer months, according to a survey carried out by the city council.

Whether to allow large stores to open earlier on a Sunday will be considered by a council committee on Friday.

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

If an extension is approved, earlier opening could begin in July and be in place for the all-Ireland festival - Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann - in Belfast in August.

It 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.

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

The results, which were published on Thursday, suggest a large majority of people in Belfast are 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.

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

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 may open.

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

He said: "Alliance has been pressing for this measure for a decade and it can become a reality within a few weeks if other political parties are willing to listen to the views of residents, tourists, businesses and many shop workers.

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

"It is important that workers have their rights protected and people already have the option to not work on Sundays."

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 careers 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.