WORCESTERSHIRE MPs have pledged to support our Buy Local campaign.
MP for Worcester Mike Foster said there were countless benefits to supporting independent traders, buying local produce and, ultimately, championing what Worcestershire has to offer.
“There are real merits in these difficult times in promoting local shops and making sure we get out there and spend our money, keeping them in business,” he said.
“Long term it’s the way we are going to get out of this recession; we have to spend, ideally locally, to manage the impact of the downturn on this area.”
Mr Foster urged local people to take advantage of what is on their doorstep and to be aware that their task to survive was no mean feat.
“The competition local shops face is another big challenge,” he said.
“People have to get out of the habit of going to one supermarket – even though those big supermarkets employ a lot of local people. There’s a balance to be struck in that.
“Worcester would be a lot poorer if it lost some of the smaller retail outlets and became a city centre of chain stores. It would drive tourists away because they could go to Merry Hill for that shopping experience. And they would get free parking.”
MP for Mid-Worcestershire Peter Luff, a self-confessed local produce lover, hoped our Buy Local campaign would inspire people for life.
He said: “The Worcester News’s excellent campaign has to have an end date, but I hope the impact will go on forever.
“Worcestershire is home to a great array of produce – meat, vegetables, fruit and much else besides. It should be easy if people set their minds to it.”
Last week Mr Foster hosted a business and jobs summit at the city’s Guildhall with the aim of producing a manifesto for local business support.
Key measures to help local businesses during the downturn received unanimous support and ranged from signposting shopping centres and post offices within city estates, encouraging Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council to help business start-ups by making premises available for short-term leases, consider changes in planning policy to give special planning permission waivers and increasing the take-up of small business rate relief.
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