Shopping centres will open for longer on Sundays throughout the summer to cash in on the Olympics as a boom in visitors is expected in the country, bosses revealed today.
The Bullring in Birmingham will open for an extra three hours during the Games. While the Guildhall Shopping Centre in Stafford and Merry Hill in Dudley will be open for two hours longer on Sundays.
Meanwhile, bosses at both the Mander Centre and the Wulfrun Centre in Wolverhampton today said they were also considering extending their opening hours.
The Government has relaxed the Sunday trading laws to help boost trade during the Olympics, when it is estimated more than one million people will visit the UK. Chancellor George Osborne first proposed emergency legislation so large shops in England and Wales can trade for more than six hours in his budget.
The laws have been suspended for eight weekends from July 22 during the Olympics and Paralympics.
At the Bullring, the weekday opening hours will remain the same but the centre will be opening longer on Sundays between July 29 and September 9, from 10am until 7pm, instead of 11am until 5pm.
While Merry Hill will be open between 10am and 6pm from July 22 and September 9, instead of 11am until 5pm.
Westfield, which owns the centre, says it will be running special events and hosting entertainment during the summer.
Centre manager Lucas Ross said: “Department stores and speciality stores will be open and we anticipate shoppers will love the extra flexibility to shop later on Sundays during this time.”
Wolverhampton’s Mander Centre director Nicholas Pitt said the venue was in discussions with tenants about extended opening hours.
He said: “We are looking at what can be done so our tenants can capitalise on trade. For some it might not make sense, depending on costs involved with remaining open. We hope to make an announcement in the next few days.”
The Guildhall Shopping Centre will be open between 9.30am and 5.30pm on Sundays from July 22, instead of 10.30am – 4.30pm.
Meanwhile, Wulfrun Centre bosses are expected to speak to traders about the possibility of extending opening hours today.
Queens Square Shopping Centre in West Bromwich will not be extending its opening hours.
Trap rules out major changes - SkySports
The Irish take on holders Spain in Gdansk on Thursday desperate to take something from the game following their 3-1 defeat to Croatia in their Group C opener.
There have been calls for change in the starting XI following the Republic's limp display against Croatia, but Trapattoni is ready to keep faith with the majority of his players.
"Our team usually play better against famous teams, famous players. We must believe in our quality, the reasons that got us here," noted Trapattoni.
"Usually Spain dominate the midfield. I think we can adapt ourselves with the players we have. We have other players that can do double jobs. For example, Cox and Walters. They can help."
"Our team usually play better against famous teams, famous players. We must believe in our quality, the reasons that got us here."
Giovanni Trapattoni Quotes of the week
When asked whether it would be skipper Robbie Keane who made way, Trapattoni added: "Keane is very important. He has personality, experience."
Trapattoni also suggested he is unlikely to throw in Sunderland's James McClean against Spain, preferring to stick with his experienced players.
"It is important to [introduce young players] at a quiet opportunity, not when we need a performance under pressure. It's a heavy weight on his shoulders," added Trapattoni.
No second guessing
Meanwhile, Trapattoni admits he does not know what to expect from Spain counterpart Vicente del Bosque as the pair prepare for Euro 2012 battle.
Del Bosque caused raised eyebrows when he named his team for Sunday night's Group C opener against Italy and did not include a single specialist striker.
That left £50million Fernando Torres and Athletic Bilbao star Fernando Llorente, among others, kicking their heels on the bench.
However, Republic of Ireland manager Trapattoni is not about to try to second-guess an old foe ahead of Thursday night's must-win encounter between the two nations in Gdansk.
"I think after I saw the game, maybe, maybe, he will play with Torres. Maybe. But Vicente decides his own tactics," said Trapattoni.
"Maybe he thought the Italians have a good defence and he would play with these small, fast and tactical players.
"He changed when he understood. At this moment, he had the necessity to put up front a big striker and he [Torres] had a good opportunity.
"I don't know how he will play against us. Sure, we know which team we have in front of us, what quality they have. I have an idea, but at this moment, I couldn't say 'this' or 'this' or 'this'.
"But I can't think about if they will play with Torres or without Torres, also Llorente or the other strikers. That's not my job, it's Vicente's job."
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