Conservative MP Ian Liddell-Grainger has thrown his weight behind a campaign to preserve Britain’s corner shops –with a warning the country must not be allowed to lose any more.
And he is joining calls for the Government to bear in mind the fragile nature of the convenience store sector when drawing up legislation which affects the retail trade.
Mr Liddell-Grainger has 108 convenience stores in his Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency. Between them they provide more than 800 jobs.
But he says many, like others in the rest of the country, are facing challenging times in the face of ever-growing and ruthless competition from supermarkets.
Mr Liddell-Grainger was speaking after attending an annual gathering at Westminster organised by the 16,000-strong Association of Convenience Stores, which says Ministers must recognise the importance of small retail shops and the need to protect them as an essential element of the urban landscape.
Mr Liddell-Grainger said corner shops were a feature of British life that must be protected at all costs.
“The essential message is ‘use it or lose it’” he said.
“And there are all too many people in this country who have failed to understand that and are now regretting the loss of their local corner shop.
“Closures simply force people to fall back on supermarkets which often offer only illusory savings – especially when one takes into account the additional transport costs involved in getting to one.
“I am determined to see the Government recognises the importance of the contribution convenience stores make to our way of life.
“I do see some small optimistic signs. More and more people are turning away from the weekly supermarket shop and instead are buying their food on a daily basis, often from independent traders.
“This is a very heartening trend and one we should be doing all we can to encourage.”
The ACS has produced statistics supporting this change in buying habits. Its 51,524 stores saw annual trade grow to £37.7billion last year, a five per cent improvement on the previous year.
But chief executive James Lowman said many stores were still facing increased challenges from rising energy bills, while a quarter of all owners worked an average of more than 70 hours a week, and a fifth took no holiday at all.
“It is now more important than ever that MPs engage with their local small business community, and work to ensure Government cuts and new regulations will not harm small business or undermine consumer confidence,” he said.