Extending supermarket Sunday trading hours would drive local stores out of business, hitting rural communities, the boss of Co-op Midcounties has told the government.
In a letter to business secretary Alok Sharma, Co-op Midcounties CEO Phil Ponsonby has warned proposed changes would deny remote and deprived communities of access to essential services.
The letter follows reports the government is considering waiving rules that restrict larger stores from opening for longer than six hours between 10am and 6pm on a Sunday.
By threatening the economic viability of some local community stores, the move would also fail to deliver on expectations of stimulating the economy, according to Ponsonby.
“We understand the government’s desire to consider measures to stimulate the economy as we look to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s essential that the impact of these measures is properly considered,” Ponsonby said.
“In our view, a suspension of the current Sunday trading laws would not result in increased consumer spending, but would be likely to reduce spending over time if community stores are forced to close.
“The current arrangement of six hours opening on a Sunday is popular, striking a balance between the needs of shopworkers, consumers, high streets and all types of business.
“But most importantly, the proposal to suspend Sunday trading laws could lead to some local community stores in the most disadvantaged and remote areas of the UK being forced to close. This would deprive these communities of access to essential services, leading to further increases in deprivation and isolation.
”At a time when these stores have been working tirelessly to meet the needs of their local communities, it is unfortunate and saddening to see the government considering measures which would only favour the big multiple operators, and it’s essential that calls for any change to the current system are resisted.”
Co-op Midcounties is the UK’s largest independent consumer co-operative, with over 230 food stores across several counties, employing more than 4,500 people.
The society has pointed to its range of store sizes, with some subject to Sunday trading rules and others not, making it “well-positioned to give a balanced and reasonable view”, according to a spokesman.
It has also highlighted the efforts of stores to support remoter communities in the pandemic.
“As an example, Co-op Midcounties launched a home-delivery service from scratch with local volunteers and local mutual-aid groups, which has currently made over 45,000 deliveries to the most vulnerable people in close proximity to stores,” said the spokesman.
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