ACS

The Conservative Party has released its interim findings from its Commission into Small Shops. The Small Shops Commission was launched last October with a brief to investigate why specialist and independent retailers are being driven out by multinational chain stores and to recommend ways to halt the decline.

Chaired by Northampton South MP Brian Binley, its members include former trade minister John Redwood; Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, whose family run a newsagent in south Wales; James Lowman chief executive of the Association of Convenience Stores; and Lincolnshire Assistant Chief Constable Peter Davies.

The report has three key recommendations:
• Promoting better town management through civic partnerships to make high-street vitality a bigger priority in planning decisions.
• Encouraging joint plans between councils and businesses to tackle retail crime and neighbourhood decline.
• Protection of the "need test" which the commission says is "essential for the survival of small retailers in town centres and high streets."

James Lowman said: “We are keen to generate debate in all parties and throughout the UK about the future of small shops, and we have an interest in supporting the 33,000 stores we represent. As a member of this Commission, we have read many submissions and spoken to a number of stakeholder groups and individuals. One of the common themes running through the evidence was support for retaining the need test in order to promote the diversity of town centres, and we are pleased that the Commission has highlighted this recommendation at this stage.”