Retailing survival is firmly back in the spotlight with the news that five of the biggest players will next week unveil a strategy for protecting and promoting Britain's high streets. Their move is timely. On Monday, property consultant Healey and Baker warned that if the operators do not make a stronger commitment to Sunday trading in our inner centres they risk losing even more turnover to out-of-town stores. The call has a familiar ring. The consultant made the same plea a year ago, and although some proactive local authorities and enterprising store groups have responded, and opened on the Sabbath, there is clearly a long way to go. Two years on, records of the political wrangling which preceded legalised Sunday trading are gathering dust in Home Office archives. But while the concept is firmly sewn into the fabric of the nation's food shopping pattern, it has not had the same impact in some town centres. There is plenty of evidence proving that Sunday shoppers in the UK will not travel into the heart of towns where there are only isolated outlets open for trade and most of the other units are closed. For the Sabbath habit to attract sufficient numbers of consumers, and thus put profit into our high streets, the concept must be promoted by a group of retailers backed by local authorities and consumer organisations. But, in some areas, this has not happened, with the inevitable result that potential expenditure is being attracted out of town. According to the shoppers interviewed for the H&B survey, they miss the big names in some downtown areas. In short, Sunday shopping in many inner centres remains a poor cousin to Saturday. The consultant wants action before the trend becomes potentially irreversible. It believes a concerted effort to persuade more of the retailing majors to open is the next big challenge. Sainsbury, Boots, Marks & Spencer, Sears and W H Smith will present a "partnership plan" to bring interested town centre groups together. Perhaps they should also look at the Sunday issue?{{NEWS}}