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Neighbourhood shops may get a reprieve
Since the last few years thousands of such shops have closed as chains like Tesco and Sainsburys opened their outlets in interiors.
The danger to the corner shops, mostly owned by Indian families, from the ever expanding big supermarket chains into neighbourhoods could be staled, at least for some time. It would give breathing time to the beleaguered families.
Since the last few years thousands of such shops have been closing as chains like Tesco and Sainsburys opened their outlets in the interiors. Over 2000 closed in 2004.
An all-party Parliamentary Small Shops Group is set to release this year its report into the retail industry according to which a supermarket regulator should be appointed to end the unfair advantage supermarkets derive offering free car parks while shoppers using local corner shops have to park on High Streets.
The Group which has 80 powerful MPs as its members will also claim that supermarkets receive unfair advantageous business rates and they frequently exceed the floor-space given to them.
