Support local business plea at town centre shop opening

South Norfolk Council's new chairman Councillor Beverley Spratt has called on local people to continue their "fantastic support" for local businesses in the face of the recession.

His call came as he prepared to open a new shop in Wymondham, saying he wanted to see more shops opening as town centres fought back against the recession.

The new shop is a recycling business called Swap It Clean, and is at 8 Fairland Street. Councillor Spratt will join the owners and guests for the official opening at around 9am on Saturday 20 June.

Councillor Spratt said:

"It's a sad fact that shop openings are all too rare events these days, but local people and local communities can and indeed are making a difference by shopping locally.

"This fantastic support for local shops is vital if we are to preserve the special character of our market towns, and keep them going through the recession.

"I want to wish Swap It Clean all good fortune as they embark on this new venture, and I extend my best wishes and support to each and every business in South Norfolk as we fight back against these difficult economic times. We will come through this together."

He took office as council chairman at the annual meeting in May, and immediately announced he would put supporting local businesses at the top of his priorities in 2009.

He plans to visit businesses across South Norfolk between now and next May.

The council also recently announced it was investigating the idea of setting up a Market Towns Task Group, building on its successful experience of campaigning to save pubs and post offices.

The Task Group idea, still in its very early stages of investigation and development, could mean joining up different servcies and agencies to support the district's market towns.

Related pages

• Latest news