Press

Retail NI has described has expressed concern with nearly 40,000 car parking and bus lanes fines issued in the first quarter of 2018

The Department for Infrastructure published the figures today.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

”These statistics continue to show we have a major problem to address”

“Nearly 40,000 parking and bus lane fines handed out to motorists in our town and city centres is having a clear and negative impact on shoppers and our members”

In a Summit meeting yesterday with Belfast City Council, Belfast Chamber of Commerce, USDAW and other key stakeholders, Retail NI outlined a compromise option to the on-going dispute over extending Sunday Trading hours for large retailers in Belfast.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

“At the Summit we outlined a proposal for a Small Shop Sunday campaign, which will promote and encourage shoppers and tourists to support the city’s smaller retailers on a Sunday morning between 11am-1pm. Large retailers would continue to trade from 1pm onwards”

A delegation from Retail NI met with the Department for Infrastructure’s Permanent Secretary Peter May and senior officials this morning on problems with Car Parking and to voice concerns with the 150,000 car parking fines being issued last year.

 Speaking after the meeting, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said:

 “This was a positive and productive meeting with Peter and his team”

Land & Property Services (LPS), part of the Department of Finance, is contacting business ratepayers to collect rental data for the non-domestic rates revaluation – Reval2020.

Business ratepayers and their advisors in Northern Ireland are obliged to provide rental evidence to LPS with a view to preparing a new Valuation List for use from April 2020.