Cross-party support for National High Street Week
Politicians from across the political spectrum have backed calls by Cardiff & Co, the company charged with promoting the Welsh capital, for a dedicated ‘National High Street Week’ to support local independent businesses.
Members of the National Assembly of Wales representing all four parties signed the Statement of Opinion which will hopefully see towns and cities across Wales following Cardiff’s lead. The statement reads:
This National Assembly supports the call by Cardiff & Co for a ‘National High Street Week’ to promote local independent businesses and to highlight their importance in retaining the distinctive character of towns and cities across Wales. Furthermore we recognize that independent shops are the glue that binds communities, fostering a sense of belonging and civic pride.
Hywel Thomas, a spokesperson for Cardiff & Co, the company responsible for promoting the Welsh capital said, “The presence of thriving independent and local businesses is critical to the sustainability of our towns and cities. They provide a sense of place and continuity. They form a critical part of the local jobs chain and perform important social functions, aspects of which are often overlooked.
He added, “Places that have become more transient in their ‘retail’ make-up, with very few independent stores, are in danger of losing a connection with the indigenous population. With each new generation this situation will become increasingly difficult to reverse.
“Later this year, there will be a dedicated week in Cardiff’s events calendar to mark the UK’s first ‘National High Street’ celebrations. In doing so, we will be seeking to raise the awareness of the public of the importance of buying local goods and services. It’s one thing to lament the loss of the old fishmongers which was once a fixture on the high street or to feel nostalgic after the closure of an old book or record shop but perhaps what we should be asking ourselves, is were we complicit in their demise? There’s a lot to be said about the old adage, ‘use it or lose it’. I’m hoping that the introduction of a ‘National “High Street Week’ will make people think about the way they consume and their role in retaining the identity and character of their communities.
“Cardiff, home to the oldest record shop in the world, Spillers Records and famed for its Edwardian and Victorian arcades is a city aiming to strike the right balance between old and new, between the chains and the independents. And the early indications suggest that the city is heading in the right direction”.
Closing Mr Thomas said, “The recent opening of the £675 million St David’s shopping centre has seen Cardiff rise to third most visited retail centres in the UK – attracting 36 million visitors during its first year. The additional visitors now coming into Cardiff have breathed new life into the city’s arcades and has seen an upsurge in the number of independent shops opening in the Welsh capital. This serves to illustrate that the independents and retail chains can co-exist and deliver a richer shopping experience”.
06/06/2011
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