Friday, January 07, 2011

Unease over Sunday trading

A campaign aimed at keeping Sunday as a day set aside has expressed concern about a possible review of Sunday trading restrictions in the North. 

Keep Sunday Special (KSS) was responding to an announcement from Social Development Minister Alex Attwood that ''allowing earlier opening on Sundays could boost the local economy, benefit the tourist industry and support regeneration of town and city centres''.

Mr Attwood said: ''I would like to look at ways of introducing flexibility around shop opening hours while retaining the tradition of Sunday as a family day. I believe a review would be a timely and balanced way to go forward.''

Restricted

In the North, large shops are restricted to opening for a maximum of 5 hours between 1pm and 6pm on a Sunday. 

In England and Wales large shops are allowed to open for up to 6 hours.

Seventy-one percent of people who responded to a recent survey indicated that they would not be at all bothered if large stores were forced to close on Sunday provided that local convenience stores continued to open.

Minister Attwood is to hold a public consultation on any potential changes.

A spokesman for the Church of Ireland said: ''An extension of opening hours on a Sunday would put more pressure on workers, small businesses and churches and also be detrimental to family and community life.''

The Catholic Church is also expected to make a submission.

SIC: IRC/IE