News
18/02/2010
MP supports Batley and Birstall high street campaign
Mike Wood MP is supporting a new campaign by the Batley and Birstall News that hopes to encourage people to support local shops.
The campaign, urging local people to spend at least £5 a week in local town centre shops, was launched in today's newspaper.
Mr Wood said: "The decline of small towns and independent traders may have a sense of the inevitable about it but this doesn't have to be so. Nothing is irreversible.
"One of the biggest factors affecting our high streets is how and where people choose to spend their money. By pledging to spend even a small amount locally, outside of supermarkets and large national retailers, we can give small towns a chance and support our small businesses and independent traders.
"The growth and popularity of the Fairtrade movement shows the strength of consumer power. People want and demand a range of fairly traded goods and the high street responds favourably - even the biggest and least ethical kind of retailers have been forced to respect what people want.
"If we are to protect our high streets, independent shops and sole traders then we have to put our money where our mouth is. If we want to continue to see shops on our high street we have to do our bit. Landlords, including Kirklees Council, also have a part to play in respect of reviewing the rents they are charging.
"I sincerely hope local people will get behind the News's excellent Help Our High Street campaign and support their local high street."
