Executive Must Produce Roadmap for Reopening-Retail NI

Ahead of this week’s Executive meeting, Retail NI has called for a high street reopening roadmap to be produced.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said “It is unlikely the Executive will give a firm date for the reopening for non-essential retail reopening; preparation for this and ensuring our high streets are fully compliant with the health regulations can begin now”

“Covid Marshalls, public hand sanitisers and business compliance scoring with the regulations all need to be in place for the reopening of non-essential retail to reassure shoppers and to limit transmission”

“This will require considerable effort from the Executive, Local Councils and businesses working in partnership to produce a reopening plan for our high streets”

“We also need to see Click and Collect restored to provide a vital lifeline for struggling independent retailers as a first step in this roadmap”

“Furthermore, we need to hear a lot more hope in the messages coming from the Executive to give businesses and the broader community confidence that the vaccine rollout will lead to recovery and some degree of normality”

“More light and less tunnel is needed from the Executive in its communication”