Conservative spokesman and Bangor businessman, Frank Shivers, has blasted the Stormont Executive and local government for “letting down retailers and neglecting Northern Ireland’s high streets”. The North Down election candidate was responding to a new report by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC), which revealed a 1.1% fall in Christmas shoppers during December, compared to last year’s figures.
“People like me, who have businesses on high streets, don’t need to be told about the challenges which continue to affect retailers in Northern Ireland”, Frank commented. “The NIRC report reveals a 1.1% drop in footfall when December 2015 is compared to December 2014. November was even worse, with a 7.6 % decrease. Consistently, politicians at Stormont Executive and council level have failed to listen to businesses, in order to deliver what we really need to make a difference and create more jobs and prosperity in our communities.”
“Retailers are hampered by crippling business rates and red tape. The Department of Finance is currently consulting on reforming business rates, but this cannot get bogged down in the usual political horse-trading, if it is to offer meaningful help to our high streets. Businesses badly want to see a fairer system, with more effective systems to offer relief and, in particular, assistance to traders struggling to pay. Councils have a role to play too. Too often, they put strategies in place without listening to business owners. Retailers need both regional and local government that listens and shows that it is consistently on their side, otherwise the statistics will continue to disappoint.”