Industry bodies condem riots as retail property hit
Published: 09 August, 2011
The British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) have condemned rioters’ shop attacks as reports of damage to retail property flood in.
Birmingham's Bullring, Manchester Arndale, Liverpool ONE and Whiteleys shopping centre in Bayswater, London, are just a few of the shopping centres effected.
Whiteleys and Liverpool ONE reported minor damage following disturbances on Monday night but opened as normal on Tuesday.
The Bullring was worse affected but opened at 10am on Tuesday. Retailers JD Sports, Footlocker, New Look, Sports Direct, Thomas Sabo, Moor Street News, Jamie’s Italian and Savers remained closed for the day.
And Manchester Arndale suffered damage to its Market Street entrance doors, and to Foot Asylum which was broken into and looted, on Tuesday night.
General manager, Glen Barkworth, said on Wednesday: “We were well prepared and had already made the decision to close early when we were targeted by a number of youths intent on creating trouble. As the night progressed, the situation worsened and unfortunately one of our designer footwear stores was badly hit. Despite this, we have worked throughout the night to create a safe centre and we were determined to open as usual today. We are working collaboratively with the Greater Manchester Police authorities and our partners within the city centre and will be constantly monitoring the situation. A decision has been taken that we will close the centre early again this evening, so as to ensure the safety of staff, retailers and customers.”
Many other shopping centres across London and in other UK cities closed early on Tuesday to prepare for potential attacks including Lewisham shopping centre, which closed at 1pm.
Director general of the BRC, Stephen Robertson, said: “I deplore the violence and property damage inflicted by these criminal actions. I have the greatest sympathy for those who’ve lost businesses, staff whose jobs are now in jeopardy and customers now without local services.
“There may be genuine economic or community relations grievances in these areas but they will not be helped by torching shops.
“Retail is at the heart of thriving communities. Clearly, with high streets under pressure anyway, at least some of the businesses destroyed will not be able to re-establish themselves, causing long-term damage.
“And, at a time when some of London’s most deprived areas are looking forward to a substantial spending boost from visitors to next year’s Olympics, this sends an appalling message to would-be tourists around the world.”
The ATCM also issued a statement vowing to rebuild London's reputation. It read: "The real victims of this criminality are those people struggling to keep a business afloat and trying to do an honest days work. Livelihoods are being lost and with it jobs.
"Towns and city centres also act as a focal point for government and public administration, hubs of regional infrastructure and natural locations for trade and commerce – it is therefore difficult to overstate their importance. In a very real sense, they are everyone’s neighbourhood and their management is central to the prosperity and well-being of whole communities as they are the main drivers of the sub-regional and local economy.
"ATCM will be bringing forward plans to rebuild the reputation of London and its diverse centres for both the day time and night time economies. This tarnishing on London’s reputation around the world must be reversed."
