Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has met with independent retailer Clive Sheppard at his SPAR store on Magdalen Road to talk about the issues affecting his business and the proposed changes to Sunday trading regulations.
The community focussed store is located in a vibrant shopping district a short distance away from the City Centre. Trade declined significantly some three years ago when a supermarket opened nearby, but has now risen back to previous levels following an extensive investment in refitting the store and introducing new categories.
Clive presented Ben with ACS research papers demonstrating the impact of relaxing Sunday trading legislation at the time of the London Olympics.
Ben Bradshaw MP said “I am extremely concerned about the impact on the viability of small convenience stores and on family life for shop workers of the Conservatives’ plan to relax further our Sunday trading laws. I was very interested to hear from Clive more detailed evidence of the damaging impact such a move would have”.
More information about the campaign to retain existing Sunday trading laws is available at: www.keepsundayspecial.org.uk.
