Sunday trading rules relaxed for Olympic and Paralympic Games

London 2012 Olympics: Shop longer this Sunday.

Consumers in Bradley Stoke will be able to shop for longer on Sundays for the next seven weeks after the Government relaxed Sunday trading rules for the duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The change was announced in the 2012 Budget and it means that shops with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres will not be subject to current Sunday trading restrictions between 22nd July and 9th September.

The Tesco Extra store at the Willow Brook Centre, which is normally restricted to opening between 10am and 4pm on Sundays, will trade from 6am to midnight over the summer period.

Other town centre stores choosing to extend their opening hours include: Argos (10am – 5pm); Brantano (9am – 6pm); Card Factory (10am – 6pm); Costa Coffee (8:30am – 5pm); Greggs (9am – 5pm); Poundworld (9am – 6pm) and Shoe Zone (10am – 6pm).

Full details of opening times can be found on the Willow Brook Centre website.

The Government has given an assurance that retail workers will retain their right to opt-out of Sunday working but shop workers’ union Usdaw and the Keep Sunday Special campaign have warned that the suspension could set a precedent.

What do you think about Sunday trading laws? Leave a comment on this story and complete the Journal poll in the sidebar of the website to let us know.

The Mall at Cribbs Causeway has similarly extended its Sunday opening hours during the Games to 10am to 6pm (normally 11am to 5pm).

Announcing the relaxation of Sunday trading laws, Business Minister Norman Lamb said:

“Retail workers will keep all their legal protections, such as the right to opt-out of Sunday working, but many will want to take the opportunity to work extra or different hours. I want employers to work with their staff so that we can all make the most of the Olympics.”

“I want to make it clear that this is a temporary measure and not a test case for a permanent relaxation of the rules in the future.”

John Hannett, general secretary of the union, said:

“Usdaw remains vehemently opposed to the deregulation of Sunday trading and we expect the government to abide by its commitment that this summer’s temporary suspension will not lead to any further attempts to extend Sunday opening hours.”

More info: Olympic boost for big shops as Sunday trading laws lifted (The Guardian)

Related link: Shops at the Willow Brook Centre (The Journal)

Tesco Extra, Bradley Stoke, Bristol.

Photo: Tesco Extra at the Willow Brook Centre. Open longer on Sundays during London 2012.

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One comment

  1. Interesting swing in the poll results. Early voters seemed to be in favour of keeping large stores closed on Sundays or maintaining restrictions but now the pendulum has swung the other way. Could it be that shoppers appreciated the longer hours yesterday?

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