Sunday buying and selling pilot will ‘revitalise’ Belfast town centre, councillor says

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Julie McCullough

BBC News NI

BBC Councillor Michael Long with short grey hair is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a purple shirt with a diamond pattern on it. — Councillor Michael Long hopes stores may just be capable of open on a Sunday morning at 10:00

Extending the hours that larger stores are ready to industry on a Sunday within the town will assist “revitalise and regenerate” Belfast, a key supporter of the scheme has stated.

Currently stores larger than 280 sq. metres can handiest open between 13:00 and 18:00, whilst there are not any restrictions on smaller stores.

On Thursday night time Belfast City Council sponsored a suggestion through the Alliance Party to permit stores to open from 10:00 on Sunday for a six-week pilot.

Final main points nonetheless wish to be showed, however Alliance councillor Michael Long stated he was hoping the pilot would get started in August.

Long stated Sunday morning within the town centre used to be a “bit of a ghost town,” particularly for vacationers.

Liam English from the Trade Union Usdaw says his participants have not been consulted at the pilot

Liam English with short grey hair and a goatee beard looks at the camera. He is wearing a navy coat with a light blue striped shirt underneath. — Liam English from the Trade Union Usdaw says his participants have not been consulted at the pilot

However Liam English from the Trade Union Usdaw, which represents shop-workers, stated it used to be “very disappointed” on the council’s choice.

“For the past 10 years we’ve been campaigning to not extend the Sunday trading hours in the Belfast area,” he advised BBC News NI.

Mr English stated there were no prior dialogue with the union and he used to be asking the council to not cross forward with the pilot.

“Our members are telling us to work a Sunday they are being pressurised from some of these companies”, he stated.

He added that if it went forward “their family time is going to be given up”.

Niamh Lawson and Ceri Swain are excited to have extra time to buy groceries

Two young women look at the camera. The one on the left has brown hair tied back, wearing dangly earrings and a green coloured top. The one on the left is smiling. She has long brown hair caught back with sunglasses and is wearing a pale coloured top that is off one shoulder. — Niamh Lawson and Ceri Swain are excited to have extra time to buy groceries

Niamh Lawson and Ceri Swain, each 19, to start with idea extending buying groceries hours on a Sunday used to be certain.

“Sundays are when most people off so being able to have longer hours, more time to go shopping is wonderful,” stated Ms Lawson.

However Ms Swain stated she then idea it would make the town centre too busy at a time when it’s usually quiet.

“When you’re going into a cafe on a Sunday morning, it’s now going to be packed, I suppose,” she stated.

But they each agreed they’d come and check out it out all over the pilot.

Tourists Colin and Susan Harrington say there’s no want for the department stores to be open on a Sunday morning

A man with short grey hair and sunglasses looks at the camera. He has a bag over his shoulder and is wearing a blue t-shirt. A woman stands slightly behind him with short blonde hair and sunglasses. She is wearing a blue tope with a white coloured pattern. — Tourists Colin and Susan Harrington say there’s no want for the department stores to be open on a Sunday morning

Colin and Susan Harrington, visiting Belfast on vacation from the north of England, stated they didn’t imagine the department stores had to open previous on a Sunday.

Mrs Harrington stated Sunday used to be an afternoon for circle of relatives and no longer for buying groceries.

“We have the family for Sunday dinner, so we all stay at home,” she advised BBC News NI.

Her husband stated he was hoping the individuals who labored stores got the selection about whether or not they sought after to paintings on a Sunday or no longer.

“If they have to, and they need the money, which most of us do, then C’est La Vie – that’s what they’re gonna have to do, you know?” he stated.

“But they should have their own choice.”

Ryan McCluskey says he’s going to no doubt come into the town centre to buy previous on a Sunday morning

A man with short brown hair and a neat beard is smiling at the camera. He is wearing a black t-shirt. — Ryan McCluskey says he’s going to no doubt come into the town centre to buy previous on a Sunday morning

However, Ryan McCluskey stated the department stores opening previous on a Sunday would attraction to numerous other people – together with him.

“Not everyone sits in on a Sunday hungover. Other people like going out shopping on a Sunday so it definitely needs to be open a bit earlier,” he stated.

“Saturdays are absolutely packed and then when it comes the weekends Sundays are dead.”

Nicole Robinson and child Hope by no means buy groceries on a Sunday

A woman is leaning over a baby in a buggy. She has brown hair pulled back and sun glasses perched on top of her head. She is wearing a purple t-shirt and smiling at the camera. The baby in the buggy has a yellow clip in her hair and a pink dummy in her mouth and is looking away from the camera. — Nicole Robinson and child Hope by no means buy groceries on a Sunday

Nicole Robinson had no objection to the department stores opening previous on a Sunday and idea it would attraction to vacationers, however stated most of the people spent the day stress-free.

“I never go into the shops on a Sunday. No no no,” she stated.

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