26/03/2019

Relief For City Centre Firms As Primark Cordon Reduced Further

Businesses in the vicinity of the fire-ravaged Primark building in Belfast City Centre can hope to see a boost in trade in the coming days as the safety cordon has been reduced further.

The footpath from the corner of Donegall Place to the corner of Fountain Street reopened at around 7am on Tuesday 26 March.

Last month, a walkway linking Fountain Street to Castle Street was also reopened, providing much needed relief for traders in the area.

Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts welcomed the news as progress that will allow a few businesses in the area to reopen, and also reconnect Castle Street traders with Donegall Place.

"While this is a step forward, a huge amount of work is still needed to fully rejuvenate that part of the city centre impacted by the Primark fire. This whole crisis has shown just how resilient city centre traders really are," he added.

"Belfast City Centre has a fantastic retail and hospitality offer, which we need to build upon in the months and years ahead. Retail NI is ambitious for Belfast and we want to see the city becoming one the UK and Ireland's top retail destinations."

The blaze ripped through Primark's home in the historic Bank Buildings last August and forced the closure of a main city centre junction for months. Several businesses in the area have since shut their doors due to a drop in footfall.



(JG/CM)

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