ACS

Hundreds of newsagents across Britain have signed a petition calling on the Office of Fair Trading to take immediate action to protect their future.

They say that Britain’s independent newsagents could soon be “consigned to history” if the OFT does not act now to prevent more agents going bankrupt.

The move comes after the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) revealed last month that the UK’s independent newsagents were closing at a rate of more than one a day.

Latest figures from the NFRN show that 510 member newsagents went bankrupt last year – an increase on the previous when 482 newsagents were forced to close their doors for good.

The petition, backed by the NFRN, the Association of News Retailing (ANR) and MPs, calls on the OFT to re-examine the newspaper and magazine distribution industry, amid “widespread concerns about anti-competitive behaviour”.

Last October, the OFT decided against referring the industry to the Competition Commission, but underlined there was scope for competition in the future.

However in the past seven months, a situation has developed whereby the industry is effectively being controlled by two regional whole monopolies, leaving newsagents powerless in the face of rising costs.

Stefan Wojciechowski, Head of News and Magazines at the NFRN, said: “I urge every newsagent in the country to sign the petition to put pressure on the OFT. Every day I hear from members telling me that they are worried about their future and every day I have to tell them that they have every right to be worried.

”More than 500 newsagents went bankrupt last year and I am certain that many more will have to shut their doors if remedial action is not taken.”

John Lennon, Managing Director at the ANR, said: “The petition demonstrates the strength of feeling among Britain’s independent newsagents. It is clear from the huge numbers who are going bankrupt every year that the OFT must act now to establish a level playing field in the newspaper and magazine distribution industry.

“An industry dominated by just two companies is bad news for newsagents and bad news for their customers.”

John Thurso, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Business Secretary, said: “Local newsagents are a vital part of community life. Given the changed circumstance it is vital that the OFT re-examines this market as a matter of urgency."