By Michael Kenwood
A plan for Sunday extended trading hours in Belfast remains alive, with Alliance and Sinn Féin votes at City Hall keeping the possibility open for a Spring pilot next year. At a full meeting of Belfast City Council this week, a decision to consult for a potential pilot next March passed in a divided chamber, with Sinn Féin in particular being accused of “u-turning”. Last month a proposal by Alliance for a pilot to be held this summer was blocked when Sinn Féin withdrew its support at committee level – after previously voting with Alliance the month before. The pilot could allow shops with a floor space of more than 280 square meters to open from 10am or 11am, instead of the current 1pm start time, for a four month period. READ MORE: DUP claims Irish Language ‘carve-up’ over £1.9 million Belfast Council plan READ MORE: Sinn Féin “concerns” at removal of Irish President portrait at Belfast City Hall The move to extend opening hours on Sundays has been welcomed by some, notably the shopping centres, the Belfast Chamber, the Hotel Federation, Visit NI, and the Belfast Business Improvement Districts, as a way to boost city centre footfall while helping tourism. Many oppose the move, including trade union USDAW and Retail NI, and the majority of parties in the council, who have voiced concerns about the exploitation of staff and warn it could benefit large multinationals at the expense of small independent businesses. At the May meeting of the full Belfast City Council, the pilot appeared to be sealed for this summer after a vote with 32 votes in favour from Sinn Féin and Alliance, to 25 votes against from the SDLP, DUP , Green Party, UUP, TUV and PBP. Then last month at the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, council officials told elected members a short-notice pilot for the summer could not be provided unless the council designated the city centre as a holiday resort, meaning the pilot would not extend to parts of the city outside this area. Sinn Féin said this new information, combined with other outstanding unresolved issues presented by the trade unions, meant they could not support the pilot this year. At the July meeting of the full Belfast Council, held this week (July 1), another Alliance proposal passed in a split chamber. Votes from Alliance and Sinn Féin pushed the plan through, which involves further consultation with the public and business with the aim of expanding Sunday trading hours across the whole of Belfast by March 2026. Alliance Councillor Sam Nelson at the meeting made an amendment to the committee decision. It states: “This council supports in principle to progress the holiday resort designation city-wide, under paragraph nine of the Shops Sunday Trading NI Order, to be introduced on an ongoing basis, commencing March 2026. “This will follow further consultation and engagement with relevant stakeholders, including the unions. It will also include a public consultation on the designation. The designation will be accompanied by a city centre family-friendly animation programme, created in cooperation with other stakeholders.” A poll on the amendment had 32 votes in favour from Alliance and Sinn Féin, and 21 against from the DUP, the SDLP, the Greens and People Before Profit. The amendment was therefore passed. Sinn Féin Councillor Ciaran Beattie said at the meeting: “I would like to second this proposal, in principle, based on the engagement with the stakeholders, between now and next March, and based on the city-wide consultation, but most importantly, based on the trade unions, and the engagement that was supposed to take place (previously), and didn’t happen.” SDLP Councillor Séamas de Faoite said: “It is ironic we are being told this is what the people of Belfast want, when in fact the trade unions who represent the store workers of Belfast have made it very clear they don’t want it, and Retail NI who represent the small businesses of Belfast have made it very clear they don’t want it. “And we’ve had feedback from arts and community organisations to say they want to be involved in an animation programme that holds up the work they are doing in the city, that isn’t distracted by the opening of large retail. “That is what this proposal fundamentally will do. It will benefit one group of retailers, over everybody else, whether that is retail, or hospitality, or anyone else. It will benefit those large multinational stores, who make billions of pounds of profit every year. It will only serve to benefit their bottom line, rather than actually serve to benefit this city. “Countless European cities operate on a model of having Sunday reserved for something different – for family time, for free time, for time when people can enjoy culture and the arts, where people who have a faith can have an opportunity to practice that faith. Why is it that Belfast continuously has this discussion?” DUP Alderman Dean McCullough said: “What can you say to the Alliance Party and Sinn Féin, who make even myself look left wing on this. I am a capitalist, because I have common sense, but I have a social conscience, and that means I want workers to have a day off on a Sunday. They work hard and tirelessly throughout the week, and throughout the year. They deserve a break.” He added: “I think people just need to come out and be honest, what is the motivation behind this. If you are saying it is for workers, what workers are you talking about?” He said: “Sinn Féin have u-turned so many times on this, I am surprised they can walk out the chamber without getting dizzy.” Green Councillor Áine Groogan said: “It is disappointing, as I thought sense had prevailed at the committee meeting. It is incredibly disappointing to see Sinn Féin row back on their position on this.” Councillor Nelson said after the meeting: “We want to see a thriving, prosperous Belfast city centre that is open for business and filled with activity every day of the week. Alongside extended opening hours on Sundays, we’re excited to see a number of other ideas for revitalising our city centre, such as family animation projects, support for artists and other exciting activities. “Whilst we would have liked to have seen this agreed in time to implement a pilot this summer, we’re pleased to see progress towards an enhanced scheme and to have the opportunity for city-wide consultation with interested parties. “The protection of workers’ rights and support for smaller retailers remain at the centre of discussion around this, and ensuring that continues will be a key focus of the consultation. These changes have the potential to give workers, shoppers, retailers, tourists and local families alike more options and freedom of choice, as well as giving Sundays in Belfast a much needed boost.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter