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Belfast to get longer Sunday trading hours for two weeks

Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
News imageGetty Images A man and woman walk in front of a busy Belfast street. Al that are in the foreground are out-of-focus. In the background tall cream building and a round iron structure can be seen. Getty Images
Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Green Party backed the proposal to extend opening hours during two weekends in August

Larger shops across Belfast will be allowed to open at 11:00 BST on 2 and 9 August.

The two Sundays are during the city's hosting of the all-Ireland music and dance festival, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

The plan was approved by Belfast City Council in spite of opposition from the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), Traditional Unionist Voice and People Before Profit.

Concerns about longer Sunday trading hours have been raised by some workers and small businesses.

Sinn Féin, the SDLP (Social Democratic and Labour Party) and the Green Party backed the proposal to extend opening hours on two Sundays.

The Alliance Party wanted longer hours allowed every Sunday during the summer but they agreed to the proposal of two weekends in August.

Sinn Féin's Ciaran Beattie described it as a "compromise" plan.

The DUP's Dean McCullough criticised it saying extra Sunday trading hours would adversely affect workers, families and churchgoers.

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

In the city centre, stores like Boots, Primark and Marks & Spencer will have the option to open earlier during the first two Sundays in August.

Larger stores outside the city centre would also be able to open at 11:00 BST.

Currently, larger shops are restricted to trading between 13:00 and 18:00 BST on a Sunday.

The all-Ireland fleadh is expected to attract more than 700,000 visitors to Belfast during the first week of August.

Belfast City Council carried out an eight-week public consultation on Sunday opening hours earlier this year.

The results suggested a large majority of people in Belfast in favour of extending the opening hours – 82% compared to 16%, with 2% neutral.

However, retail workers were split with only a slight majority 48% compared to 47% in favour.

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.