ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to a consultation from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on changing the planning system to allow for greater changes of use to support the high street to adapt and diversify.

ACS' submission supports a new use class (a category of property types for the planning system) which merges the A1 (shops), A2 (financial services) and A3 (food and drink) use classes to increase flexibility for retailers when developing services alongside their grocery offer. 

Camelot UK Lotteries Limited (‘Camelot’) today announced details of ‘Set For Life’ – a new draw-based game from The National Lottery that will offer a top prize of £10,000 a month for 30 years.

Tickets for the new game will cost £1.50 per line and will go on sale on Friday 15 March.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation on reducing harms from high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) products, raising concerns about proposals to restrict the location of confectionery, biscuits, crisps and other products can be sold

The consultation proposes a range of measures to restrict the ways that HFSS products can be sold, including restrictions on:

GroceryAid is reminding colleagues about their 24/7 free helpline (online via Live Chat and freephone 08088 021 122) which provides emotional support, problem solving, counselling services, relationship support and career advice.

Small retail businesses are welcoming the Government’s plans to extend the single use plastic carrier bag to small retailers in England. The Government’s consultation published today (Thursday 27^th December) sets out plans to extend the charge to small retailers by 2020 and seeks views on increasing the charge from 5p to 10p.

ACS chief executive, James Lowman, said: “We welcome the Government’s plans to extend carrier bag charging to all shops.”

ACS has called for the minimum unit price for alcohol in Wales to be set at 50p in line with existing legislation in Scotland, and has raised concerns about potential financial incentives for local authorities looking to enforce the new rules as they are being adopted.

In its submission to the Welsh Government’s consultation on what level the minimum unit price of alcohol should be set at in Wales, ACS supports the proposed level of 50p as the consistency with Scottish rules will reduce burdens for retailers who operate across the UK.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the recommendations of the High Street Report, published this morning (Thursday) by the Expert Panel on High Streets.

ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has welcomed the latest findings of the independent Access to Cash review, which has published an interim report suggesting that Britain is not yet ready to go cashless.

The Access to Cash Review, chaired by Natalie Ceeney CBE, highlights the overall decline in the use of cash in the UK, as well as a fall in ATM use and an increase in the number of businesses that are becoming cashless.

The Government has published its Resources and Waste Strategy for England, setting out proposals to minimise waste by eliminating avoidable plastics and increasing the productivity of non-biodegradable resources.

The Strategy follows on from the 25 Year Environment Plan and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to consult on a universal carrier bag charge in England, as is already the case in Wales and Scotland.

Areas covered by the Strategy include:

The Government have today published their “Good Work Plan” setting out a new legislative approach to employment rights and status.

The Good Work Plan confirms the Government’s intention to legislate to introduce rights for all workers to request a more predictable and stable contract, the right to a day one written statement for all workers and employees, and improve clarity on employment status workers.