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Time for action to save local shops

The News has launched a campaign to preserve the hearts of our communities.

We are throwing our weight behind the army of independent retailers that are battling to survive on the high street under pressure from the 'big four' supermarkets, rising overheads and red tape.
Maurice Twells makes prizwinning sausages, but has had to diversify to survive
 

Through the Save Our Shops campaign we aim to help bring our communities together to back these shops. The message is simple: use them or lose them.
We will also push local and national authorities to do more to level the playing field for them against retail giants such as Tesco, which last month announced record profits of £2.2bn.
The time to act is now as business experts predict a shocking 50 independent shops will shut across our communities this year unless something is done.
Fareham Borough Council is leading the way in the fight, having put in a bid for £1m in government cash to transform one end of the town centre.
Fareham council leader Sean Woodward said: 'We don't want to lose these specialist shops and need to work with them to upgrade that area and integrate the whole centre of town.
His view was echoed by Brendan Gibb-Gray, the chairman of Emsworth Business Association.
Emsworth has fought hard to stave off the march of the big four.
He said: 'It's a constant battle to keep vibrant towns and we have to keep local shops going if we don't want to live in a museum.'
Hayling Island newsagent Nigel Swan, who represents the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, said: 'I wholeheartedly endorse the News campaign.
'It is also the worst-off in the community who are hardest hit when local shops close; elderly people and single mothers who cannot afford to travel and buy a whole week's shopping.'


15 May 2006
 

 
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