Assembly Member welcomes Small Shops Bill

12.00.00am GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for South Wales West, Peter Black has welcomed attempts to amend the law so as to help small shops.

The Bill has been introduced by Liberal Democrat peer, Lord Cotter and is aimed at protecting the future of independent retailers where new supermarkets are planned. It also enables local communities to have a voice and influence such decisions.

Mr. Black said:

"When new supermarkets are planned or existing large retail outlets wish to expand, harm is often done to local shops and communities. Independent retailers are driven out of business, and consumer choice gets reduced to what the supermarkets want to sell.

"No-one denies that supermarkets have their place; but they shouldn't have every place on the High Street. Their dominance of our retail scene is unhealthy in terms of choice, and in terms of what they supply to us.

"Lord Cotter's bill will force the Government to bring in a business rates review, with three classes of shop so that the supermarkets pay their fair share.

"Councils will have to produce a plan of retail development for their area. This will help to give safeguards to resist the over expansion of large supermarkets, where they are not needed.

"There will also be an Office of Retail Planning to see there is a final arbiter to see the Retail Development Plans are formulated and carried through. If for some reason this excellent idea does not get to become law, Labour and their Plaid helpers should seek to use their powers under the Government of Wales Act to introduce it here in Wales."