Monday 2 November 2009

Small shops demand action from Government

Small shopkeepers are rightly worried about their futures, and tomorrow the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) will present a 10-point action plan to the Government to safeguard the future of thousands of stores.

The ACS, representing 33,500 small shops, will present its proposals to MPs, including the minister for regional economic development and co-ordination, Rosie Winterton, at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.

Actions include an abolition of minimum wage increases, a reduction in business rates, and a re-think of the ban on tobacco displays.

It has been estimated that, since the start of 2008, 12,000 independent shops have closed, and ACS chief executive James Lowman described the numbers of shops closing in the last two years as "a massive spike".

The convenience store sector generates £30 billion a year to the economy, and employs 500,000 people.

A survey by ACS showed that 82 per cent of people feel that their local community would negatively impacted by the closure of local shops.

No comments:

Post a Comment