Dunnes Stores Closes Connswater Premises

Dunnes Stores has closed its premises at Connswater Shopping Centre.

The move follows concerns last week that the east Belfast store was to close.

The closure has since been confirmed by the retailer, which was one of the main tenants of the shopping centre.

Commenting on the closure, Glyn Roberts, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Independent Retail Trade Association (NIIRTA), said: "This is terrible news for the staff at the store and for Connswater Shopping Centre as a whole. With Tesco closing its store, the Centre will soon have lost both its anchor stores which puts its long term viability at risk.

"Unless these two stores can be replaced, Connswater faces likely closure. There will be major retail job losses if Connswater closes, impacting on the many surrounding independent retailers in that part of East Belfast."

He added: "The Lower Newtownards and Albertbridge Roads are already areas which are struggling with the loss of retailers and the potential loss of Connswater would be a huge blow to the economy of that whole area.

"This very serious situation requires immediate political attention by ministers and locally elected representatives."

(JP/CD)