Debate contribution: High Street and Town Centre Rejuvenation

Debate contribution by Mr Timothy Gaston on 4 November 2024.

MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston

Party at the time

Traditional Unionist Voice

Date

4 November 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

High Street and Town Centre Rejuvenation

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4625951

Read the official Assembly record

Text

While recognising the significant challenges faced by businesses on our high streets, I begin by noting that I have the privilege of representing the constituency that has the current High Street of the Year. I commend the businesses of Ballymoney for winning that prestigious title and note that Winnie Mellot is worthy of particular praise after her shop, The Winsome Lady, won the prestigious Overall Independent Retailer Award for 2024. Ballymoney is a great place to shop, and it is fantastic to see it recognised in that fashion. It is noteworthy that Winnie Mellot had to adapt and overcome the challenges that many of our high street shops face. The Winsome Lady is a model of how to use the power of technology to bring products to a new audience through internet sales. However, Winnie would be the first to recognise the key role of local community spirit and the importance of working together and promoting one another's businesses. That team spirit is a key element to the success of businesses in Ballymoney, and I am delighted that it has been recognised on that scale. If we want to preserve our high streets, it is not good enough to simply tell them to get online. Large retailers will always get the lion's share of such business through brand recognition. Unfortunately, that makes it challenging for many of the independent retailers on our high streets, which are, in essence, the DNA of many of our town centres. Take Ballymena, which is known for its unique shopping experience, with over 70% of its businesses being independent. On the subject of Ballymena, this Thursday is discount day in the town, and there are now 65 businesses involved that will attract thousands to the town to avail of unrivalled bargains for all their Christmas needs. Multiple household names are involved, such as Moore Electrics, Camerons department store, Fred Funk, McKillens, Wallaces of Ballymena, Sams of Ballymena, Grassmen and many more. Unfortunately, large internet retailers have a competitive edge over the businesses that I have just listed. They do not face the massive rates bills that we impose on businesses in town centres, nor do they face the challenge of competing with out-of-town retailers that suck the business out of our town centres through convenience and free parking. In her response, I would like the junior Minister to set out what plans the Executive Office has, whilst working with the Economy and Infrastructure Ministers, to develop new policies that discourage edge-of-town developments and encourage the breathing of life back into our high streets. I thank the SDLP for tabling its amendment. It focuses on the issue of rates, which is a key point. I commend Gerry for his amendment, particularly the part on the importance of the two-day weekend. Recently, Belfast City Council made a blunder when it backed an Alliance proposal to develop plans to pilot an extended Sunday trading scheme. The blowback has been immediate and predictable. I will never make a secret of my religious convictions, but even those who, unlike me, do not have concerns about Sunday being a day of rest can see the value of hard-working people having Sunday off. Those employed in the retail sector are often the most poorly paid and have little enough time with their families as they struggle to make ends meet. As the Northern Ireland Committee, Irish Congress of Trade Unions pointed out in a resolution passed in 2017,

"the trend towards 24/7 retail trading, including deregulated Sunday trading, is having a serious negative impact on retail workers, associated workers and local communities across Ireland. Employee [fl]exibility in retail is increasingly one-sided with the employer changing shifts and hours at short notice with little discussion."

An increasing push for unlimited trading on Sunday is a backward step. I trust that today's debate will cause all the parties in the House to reflect on their actions not just here but in councils up and down Northern Ireland.

I am happy to give way.

The Member makes an important point. Indeed, for that motion to pass, Sinn Féin needs the help of Alliance — or, rather, Alliance needs the help of Sinn Féin. They work hand in glove nowadays, so I get them mixed up. It is important that Sunday trading is left the way it is. We have to respect workers' rights. I worked in the retail industry for many years before I came here. It is important that, when workers get to the weekend, they have a day of rest and do not face burnout, so I welcome the intervention. I encourage Sinn Féin to do a little soul-searching, if that is possible, and, when it comes to the Alliance motion before Belfast City Council, to stand up for workers' rights and say, "No, thank you".

803 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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