• 150 MPs call for a tougher test to save small shops
• Cameron pledges action to protect small traders
• Battle to protect small shops goes to the Lords
• Shopkeepers urged: Stop high street cloning
• Mayor's masterplan to help save small shops
• Net gain for the independents
• West End 'will lose 10% of trade to new malls'
• Small shops'frozen out by town centre development'
• Cameron joins Standard's small shops fight
• More of us are shopping locally
• Old markets 'replaced by gourmet food stalls'
• 'Tesco test' will help rivals but not small shops
• Demolition threat to City shopping parade
• Street market in revolt over rates
• Rent rises driving curry houses out of Brick Lane

Reader views (35)

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Can we have a 'bat signal' type of system to attract attention to stealth closures of local business areas?Last week saw the closure of the atmospheric and much loved King William Passage/Stockwell Street market in Greenwich. I spoke to some of the traders who were both sad and angry to lose this part of their livelihood (especially at the moment). Apparently the whole area will become flats eventually (though there will be some tokenistic talk about an education centre during the planning process). Greenwich is slowly being eroded by 'planning' and high rent rises. A recent bizarre move was when the council evicted the popular Organic Coffee Shop because there are too many eateries in the centre - the Organic Cafe dutifully closed to be replaced by a (wait for it) take away sandwich shop that lasted about 3 months! That has now closed leaving another empty shop front. Successful, characterful shops are being closed to make way for unnecessary chains and the entire character of the area is being stripped away in favour of a historical theme park with its glorious centrepieces and a mini High Street UK where the town once stood. So please lets help to save Greenwich town centre

- Paul, Greenwich

Yes lets save Bates hat shop in Kermyn Street. A unique place for 100 years it should be cherishted. This is part of old London tradition that tourists need to see and if it goes will not be replaced. Also think of all the small suppliers and craftsmen of hats/material who will also vanish without a sound.
In Paris the local council reduce rates for idiosyncratic shops like bakers ets. to stay in the center. Lets not have another Starbucks RTesci Metro etc. on this site. Keep Bates alive for another generation.

- Vincent Mcevoy, london

I have a small shop in NYC and we are going to have an SOS group here as well. We are calling it Support our Shops (indies). I have just written a retail manifesto and it is in my window. It calls for customers to support us and not shop in big branded corporate shops. Without the independents NYC could be anywhere USA.

- Rita Brookoff, NYC, USA

We are a Health and Medical company and made a clear decision 3 years ago that we would only supply to INDEPENDENT Chemists and Stores.

PRINCIPALS before PROFITS

- N, Cambridge

Severe parking restrictions, high overheads, planning systems and the relentless rise of big chain stores are the main problems.

- V Wilson, London, UK

The majority of countries enjoy individuality. Each high street in England is full of the same dull chain stores, i.e. Tesco, Starbucks. Let us help England to be creative again.

- Maggi Nixon, London, UK

Freeholders and the landlords refer for rent increases to their own Chartered Surveyors in order to get rent increases, they find an isolated tenant to meet with the Landlord's demands thus increasing the rents of the smallholders. This crippling blows comes not only from the Surveyors, but with Business rates and other utility bills, which cannot be absorbed by a small retailer, and added to all this they face the tssk of competeing with major supermarkets that sell their products. I have seen shops closing due to high rents and business rates. My local chemists faces a closure due to NHS cutbacks. Something has got to be done to protect them.

- Nihal Fernando, Paddington, Bayswater

I try and shop at our great local butchers - but why do they shut at 5pm?! If they stayed open until 7pm just one one night a week, I'd be putting 40 quid into their till every week. Same for a decent greengrocers and fishmongers. They haven't kept their working hours in line with what people want.

- Glenn, London, UK

Government should give small shops a chance. What with high business tax and stupid rules and regulations it is just too expensive for us to operate at a profit.

- Andrew, Taunton

We recently closed two stores mainly because we could not compete with the major chains. It is true that most would like to support independent stores, but it is also true that many cannot compete with the deep purchasing pockets of the majors. I value your attempt to save independent stores but without Government intervention on taxation, rates and localised shopping initiatives, you are fighting a losing battle. The only businesses that seem to get any support these days when they hit difficult times are banks! Some of which have been making billions year on year for the last 10 years.

- Colin Minto, Horsham, England

The way to save small shops is to SHOP in them i.e. don't moan about them closing if you never use them.

- Joanne, London, UK

I would like to support small shops, but they are their own worst enemy, my local shops hike up the price so much (not just a few pence) that people can't afford to use them!

- Peter, Herts

I prefer the chains because I trust them better and they follow more rigorous food marking standards. Also, they offer better prices and are good for consumers. They products are always marked with price tag which is not always the case for corner shops. Also, the personnel are much nicer och more polite at the chain supermarkets.

- Irene A, Maida Vale

Independent shops provide variety and uniqueness. Soon we will all be clones of each other: with the same mass produced clothes, accessories, furniture and food. Who wants to live like that?

- Joanna Austin, London

Upward only rents linked to UBR, add councils putting double yellow lines outside shops and increasing car parking fees to extortionate levels, no MPs ever having run a retail business, add together and you've got what Napoleon couldn't do. He stated we were a nation of small shopkeepers, not any more!

- Robert Ridley, Croxley Green England

We must remember that it is up to us to help the small shops survive by using them and that the extra penny paid is worth it.

- Nicol, Aberdeen

The minimilist plate glass windows of the Hampstead Tesco Metro blend in perfectly with the local architecture.

- Mark Wright, Verona, Italy

It's not the rents that are main problem for shopkeepers it's the planning departments, allowing companies like Tesco's and Asda of this world to control people's shopping habits and every penny in our pockets, every business is at stake x business owner.

- Philbech, Liverpool

Tax breaks should be given to small shopholders. 30 years ago, owning a shop was a decent career - now it's simply a slow form of suicide.

- Gavin Poolman, Belgravia, UK

Certainly keep the individual vendors! It's a pity that some fine shops and services are taken over by the big conglomerates. Whilst living in London, it was tiring to see a bunch of All Bar Ones,Pizza Expresses,Cafe Rouges, Tesco's, Oasis, Cafe Nero's, all on the same block, a lot of times! I think the small mom & pop shops lend a lot of character, community, service and quality that the big chains just don't have. I think folks just care more when its their own shop. It's a shame that the big guys are making it difficult for these independent operators to make a living!

- Lisa Sandonato, Weymouth, USA

I have run my shop 26 years. I am a dedicated and certified organic shop in Berkhamsted trying to compete with the big supermarkets which have given away countless plastic bags and so much that has to be put into landfill. I have never sold a hydrogenated product, not azo dye colours, and will not buy from any wholesalers who sells them. I hope you are right with your assertions on small shops because we need a good Christmas this year.

- Rex Tyler, Berkhamsted, United Kingdom

Give me a Tesco anyday!

I am fed up having to "brown-nose" the butcher every time I want a decent steak!

- Suuri Suomi, London

My local butcher is once again facing extinction after serving the local community for over 30 years - thanks to the latest rent increase by Hammersmith and Fulham Council and who knows who may be next. It is impossible for small businesses to thrive and make a living when rents are increased so much by greedy landlords. I already see enough empty shops in the area. We all need choice - these small businesses are providing an essential service to the community. I for one do not want my choice restricted to Tesco, Sainsbury or Asda in years to come and our high streets become desolate rows of empty shops.

- Suzanne Tuck, Brook Green, London

I have recently moved to a beautiful part of the Essex Coast, Mersea Island. We have many small independant shops, fishmongers, greengrocers, butchers, bakers etc. Also, a co-op. Tesco has decided to come to the island, and I have yet to find anyone who wanted this. I am afraid that this will spoil the whole nature of the island and put our lovely local shops out of business. This is not fair competition but organised destruction of communities, on par with the closure of small, rural post offices. Appalling.

- Janice Patmore, Colchester, Essex

If our small shops have gone we only have ourselves to blame. 'If you don't use us, you lose us'! That is what small shopkeepers have been saying for years, and that's what has happened. The problem is that supermarkets are so convenient and they know it.You can do all your shopping in one go, but it has put the high street in the doldrums and not a joy to behold as it once was. When did most of us see a high street fishmonger, butcher, greengrocer or small bakers - very rare these days unfortunately and I for one miss them all! Soon we will have to go to the supermarket to get our newspapers and sweets when the stationers have gone too! Very dismal prospect for everyone.

- Wooram, Alicante, Spain

It's about time that our small shops got some support. They are the heart and soul of our cities and towns.

I suspect the real issue for small shops is how to make more consumers aware they exist? The Internet has by-passed them, driving consumer enquiries to the larger shops and the price of advertising as well as producing the advert is so high. And the cost of advertising in the local newspaper is prohibitive.

I came across a potential solution recently when I saw a digital display in the window of my local butcher, facing out to the street. Apparently, there will soon be dozens of these displays in small shops and businesses in the area showing interesting local information such as what's-on, local breaking news, all interdispersed with some advertising. It looked really good and was actually interesting.

The butcher pays £50 a month to have his video advert shown 1,500 times a month on each display. Says he will advertise on several.

The key here seems to be that everything shown on the display - public information and adverts is local, not national and this must be good for small shops.

- Paul Munnery, Kensington, London

I have lived in London for over 45 years, and the small cornershops were part of the integral service provided to the residents. The emergence of Large Supermarkets and other powerful businesses have had a tremendous impact on the profitability of keeping these units open, which is always run by very civil shopkeeper readily greeting you and having a little chat before serving you.

I had owned 2 Estate Agents and I find it a disgrace to have been in this business and I soon sold out due to the ethics involved in trying to sell a property.

The biggest culprits are the Surveyors who are renowned to raise the rents by finding flimsy excuses to raise the rent by at least 30% on a 5 year term. I can name a few who recommends to the Landlord these high rents just to get a high commission. These are the real culprits. Recently, I was called by the smallholders in my area to negotiate their rents with the appointed surveyor by the landlord, and out of 15 units in W2 who were paying less that £18K per annum the surveyor recommends the landlord to raise it to £25,000.

- Nihal Fernando, Paddington

I liked a report I read in the press recently that Kensington and Chelsea was discussing or had agreed to ensure all commercial developments had 'Affordable Shops'. This seemed like a step in the right direction. Supermarkets are useful, but do nothing for community life. I am now in Italy where small shops are still the norm and the locals talk to the shopkeepers and neighbours. The streets are buzzing and feel safe in the town centres. Small shops need to move with the times and offer the right merchandise. But certainly where we live we need a haberdasher, book shop (ours just closed to make way for Starbucks - we now have a street full of estate agents and coffee shops), a decent delicatessen etc. etc.

- Barbara, Harrow

I own a specialist ladies shoe shop in Marylebone and, having suffered the congestion charge and exorbitant parking fees in the area I find that my business is, from this week on, to be further disadvantaged by the thoughtless and totally discriminitive replacement of "cash" parking meters by payment by credit card through the medium of mobile phone. We have many customers who, terrified of being caught in a credit crunch, refuse to use credit cards. We have many customers, particularly older people, who do not own, and do not want mobile telephones. I'm sure we have the odd bankrupt buying shoes from us; they are not allowed to own credit cards.
I have discussed the situation with other business in the area. Nobody was consulted but everybody will be adversely affected. Time to take another stand.

- Raymond Martine, London, England

Landlords like the Grosvenor estate should be encouraged to help small shopkeepers to exist and government should keep rates down for specialist shops...the death knell was sounded years ago when Hills the famous violin makers could not stay in Bond Street. In the end all that will be left will be chains or large conglomerates.

- Jeremy Mason, London

It's not just the goverment that could do more to help small businesses, consumers need to support their independent, interesting shops, otherwise they will lose them. We are so drawn by price cuts that we are in danger of losing our individuality.
Tring, not very far from London, still retains many independent businesses, but they are struggling, however they are a determined bunch and ready to ride a storm!

- Mel Matthews, Tring, Hertfordshire

Funny how the Government's answer to everything is raising taxes!

- Roger, London, UK

I think this is a very positive step for the families who own these small businesses.

It is really sad to see how governments have failed to support small businesses. There does not seem to be enough concern with regards to the red tape, high rent and rate charges faced by small businesses. I personally feel that governments actually see the small business as a burden and councils are always going to prioritise shop spaces for big companies.

Small businesses simply can't afford these unrealistic overheads. The main obstacle against the small businesses is that the big guns have the power. That is, they get to speculate with huge amounts of money. Also they can afford to bulk buy their stock and/or are also manufacturers of their products thus reducing their prices further - the family run business are not always able to do this.

- Karen, Kent

No surprise there are no small shops rents are ridiculous! It is only mutiple chains that can carry the costs! I have been trying to open a food market on our Green in North Chingford only to be told all expenditure for this type of spending is allocated to Walthamstow Islam Centre! What can you say that is politically correct!

- Ruth, North Chingford

Hampstead High Street is now lucky enough to have five mobile phone shops – obviously far more useful to the locals than say the Oddbins that closed down to be replaced by the newest retailer “3” .
Personally I regularly pop into Orange or Vodafone to pick up some essential mobiles along with my bread, milk and newspaper.
If I’m not buying mobile phones then I’m flitting from coffee shop to coffee shop until my eyeballs are popping out from caffeine overdose – then I do the rounds of all the estate agents windows to see how much I have made this week from owning my own property.
On a lighter note – I’ve never used the local MacDonald’s – that would really be letting the side down!

- Matt, London

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