KEEP TRADE LOCAL - GIDLEY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Romsey's MP, Sandra Gidley, has signed up to the Federation of Small Business's Keep Trade Local manifesto, calling for government action to halt the decline of independent small businesses in our high streets and villages.

Their six point manifesto aims to give local business a fighting chance against supermarket giants Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda and Morrisons, who between them have a combined share of 75.6% of the total UK grocery market.

Commenting today, Sandra said:

"The dominance of the out of town shopping centres with free car parking makes it so much more difficult for local businesses to survive.

"Over half of the turnover of our independent retailers goes back into the local community, compared to just 5% from supermarkets.

"The average person in Hampshire travels 893 miles a year to shop for food. This does nothing for the environment or people's wallets. By going to local shops people can save more of their own money and cut down on their carbon footprint too.

"2000 local shops are closing each year and the trend is accelerating. Without measures to give small, independent business a fighting chance, many more of our communities will soon be without local services.

"We are very lucky in Romsey to have good local shops, which offer a wide variety of choice and which sell good quality products. I hope everyone in and around the Romsey will give them a go and keep our town's trade local."

To sign the Keep Trade Local petition, visit http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/keeptradelocal/

ENDS