Makes sense to encourage independent traders

AS ONE of the ward councillors for most of the pedestrianised part of Loughborough town centre, I think Nick Hardy ( Echo, April 4), makes a lot of sense in suggesting that we need to be looking at ways of encouraging more locallyowned, independent retailers.

Not only do they add far more variety to the town, but a far higher proportion of their income is put back into the local economy. Research suggest that for every £1 spent in a small business, 63p stays the local economy compared to 40p with a larger business.

There are other reasons why such shops are beneficial. Local business owners helped build a sense of identity and understand the need to build personal relationships with their customers. They also require less infrastructure and lower maintenance compared to larger stores. Shops that sell locally- made products can attract more customers into the town, bolstering tourism and contributing to a sense of community.

While the suggestion to subsidise business rates for local independent retailers is a worthy idea, the national rules which apply to business rates make it difficult for us to focus solely on one business sector.

However, readers may be interested to know that last year the council introduced business rate relief schemes, targeted at small and medium size enterprises that aimed to mitigate the impact of recent business rate increases.

The council awarded £400,000 in rate relief to around 600 firms which had experienced hardship caused by the business rates changes. This is something the council will continue offering into 2018-19

What we are also doing, is implementing the MasterPlan plan for the town centre which has been altered significantly in response to feedback from both local residents and shopkeepers in the town.

For instance, to reduce the amount of parking in Bedford Square and make Southfield Road two-way have been rightly rejected and a more modest proposal that is likely to be well received is to be implemented.

Loughborough is, as Nick rightly notes, no different from any other town in Britain that is struggling with factors such as internet shopping that are beyond the ability of local councillors, planners or shopkeepers to oppose.

Hopefully, however, some of the ideas that Charnwood intends to implement might go some way towards responding to these challenges.

Coun Paul Mercer, ward member for Southfields