Small retailers fear 7,000 jobs may be lost in the North

Up to 7,000 shop jobs could be lost if the growth in out-of-town centres isn’t halted, small retailers in the North warned today.

There may be more than 700 shop closures and so-called food deserts caused by the collapse of local convenience stores in rural parts of the North within five years, the vendors’ report claimed.

Antrim is among towns allegedly threatened by the expansion of supermarket chains.

The paper said: “2008 will see the lifeblood being further squeezed out of the local economy, with further damage being inflicted on the small and independent retail sector.

“The rise and rise of the big supermarkets is also very bad news indeed for local suppliers, farmers and retailers in every sector.

“This will result in more business failures and job losses as well as the loss of identity and diversity in Northern Irish towns and villages.”

’Nightmare on every Street’ was published by the North's Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA).

It called on Environment minister Arlene Foster to publish a final and robust planning policy statement (PPS) on the issue and demanded a freeze on out-of-town retail development until that is done.

Large traders like Tesco have pointed to the numbers employed in their operations as well as local suppliers. Sainsbury’s takes all its beef from local sources.

However, NIIRTA chief executive Glyn Roberts said: “Because PPS 5 isn’t yet published, our sector is under threat from the very real lack of a level playing field with the big multiples who continue to seek to locate in out-of-town venues.

“Out-of-town location by the multiples causes damage not just to the local economy and jobs but destroys the character of town and city centres, which is bad for the community and our environment.”

He added centres like Antrim and Lurgan, Co Armagh, had become ghost towns because of shopping areas on the outskirts and said the Lower Newtownards Road had been left with a sea of for sale signs.

Banbridge, Larne, Ballyclare, Crumlin and many others face retail devastation if planning applications by supermarket giants are waved through, Mr Roberts added.

“The Northern Ireland Executive cannot on the one hand claim that it is supporting local small businesses and yet allow the current planning policy to remain,” he said.

Many of these small retailers provided much needed employment and investment during the dark days of the Troubles and didn’t expect to be under threat now that we have greater peace and political stability.“

A spokeswoman for the DoE said they were reviewing their planning policies.

“It is anticipated that this review will be completed during 2008 and that a revised PPS 5 will be introduced to update the existing policy and address the changes in the retail environment experienced in recent years,” she said.

“However, the current objective of sustaining and enhancing city and town centres remains valid and it is intended that the revised PPS 5 will continue to reflect and reinforce this.

“In the meantime the Department considers that the introduction of a moratorium on all shops outside city and town centres would undermine rather than assist the maintenance of an efficient, competitive and innovative retail sector which the Executive is seeking to promote.”