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REDBRIDGE: Threatened shops' council SOS
Worried traders have demanded more support from the council after a report warned independent shops could all but disappear from Redbridge's high streets by 2015.
Shopkeepers have called on the local authority to help halt their decline by introducing measures such as lower business rates and the removal of double yellow lines outside shops.
The plea comes after a survey by the Forum of Private Business showed that thousands of independent stores have closed each year since 2000 because of rising business rates and increased competition from supermarkets and retail chains.
More than 150 MPs, including Ilford North MP Lee Scott, have backed traders by supporting an Early Day Motion in Parliament calling on the Government to give councils more powers to protect small shops.
Richard Strong, of Wanstead Business Partnership, said he feared the borough's high streets would be turned into "characterless clone towns" unless urgent action was taken.
He added: "The bottom line is that many small businesses simply can't compete with supermarkets and chain stores and need more help to survive.
"The council must do all it can to support them."
His views were echoed by Brian Jobber, owner of Andrews Builders Merchants in Woodbine Place, Wanstead, who said the council could do more to help small businesses.
He said: "I support this call for councils to be given more power to protect small shops, but I don't think they do enough to help us with the power they already have.
"They could be doing all sorts of small things, like making business rates fairer, getting rid of double yellow lines in front of shops and widening roads to make it easier for shoppers to park."
Councillor Jim O'Shea, cabinet member for Corporate Performance and Review, said he appreciated the plight of independent traders but the council had little power to help them.
He said: "The short answer, is that the council can't discriminate in favour of small shops when setting business rates. We are prevented from doing this by law.
"It is sad to see our high streets losing their character, but the council has few powers to stop this at present."
9:16am Tuesday 29th April 2008
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