FSB express ‘disappointment’ at John Lewis news

The Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland has today expressed its disappointment at the news that a John Lewis department store for the province has been given the green light.

The decision, which was announced on Wednesday, will see a new 220,000 sq ft department store housed at the Sprucefield site near Lisburn, with around 700 jobs being created in store and a further 200 in warehousing.

John Friel, FSB Regional Chairman said the Government had ignored the views and concerns of small business owners: “While we acknowledge that it will bring jobs for some, it will also cost many more jobs and force many small retailers to close in Belfast and other surrounding towns who are unable to compete.

“The development of out of town shopping centres has crippled many long standing small businesses in communities throughout Northern Ireland. Many of these local traders provided a high standard of customer service which John Lewis, Tesco’s or Sainsbury’s could not touch.”

Mr Friel said that if the Government was serous about wanting small businesses to be the backbone of Northern Ireland’s economy then it must call a moratorium on the building of any more out of town shopping centres.

However, the Chairman of Lisburn’s Economic Development Committee, Edwin Poots, welcomed the go-ahead.

Mr Poots said the decision meant that 1,500 jobs would be created on the site as well as the distribution centre.

“This decision is a positive one for Lisburn and Northern Ireland Plc,” the DUP MLA said.

“On the back of securing Coca-Cola, which Dublin fought hard to take South, Northern Ireland has demonstrated it is the place for business and Lisburn has shown itself to be a prime location in Northern Ireland and is experiencing growth unparalleled by any other Council."

University of Ulster retail expert, Donald McFetridge, also welcomed the decision saying it was good news for local retailers.

“Traders who worry for the future of their business need not do so,” Mr McFetridge said. “Past research has demonstrated that there is cumulative attraction when new retailers of such a high calibre develop store operations in new territories. Out of town retailing complements that already available in town or city centres and should be welcomed by traders and consumers alike.”

Mr McFetridge, who is a lecturer in the School of Business, Retail and Financial Services at UU, also rejected claims that the arrival of a John Lewis store could have a detrimental effect on other retailers in the area.

“It is protectionist in the extreme to claim that there will be massive problems resulting from this development. History has demonstrated that this is not the case.

“This is a time for looking to the future,” he concluded.

(MB/SP)