It is funny how the idyllic scenes of snow on the Christmas cards are not the same in reality!  We have just seen more snow than we have had in many years and as usual, the road networks ground to a halt.  Footpaths, Roads and Car parks rapidly became ice rinks and terribly hazardous.

As such, local shops became lifelines to many people who were either unable to travel or did not feel safe doing so.  Our shops were no different and we soon saw panic buying of essentials such as bread and milk.Hopefully, the people who decided to use us in preference to the major supermarkets saw the benefit of local shopping.With 2000 convenience stores per year closing, the public needs to realise the importance of this service to the community before it’s too late.  The stores that have been closed are no longer convenient and as such, those members of society least able to travel will have missed the services and products that such stores offered.Local shops are vital to society.  Thankfully the governments’ latest planning guidance (PPS4) acknowledges the importance of the High Street.  For many towns and villages throughout the UK, PPS4 has arrived too late.However, now it is here, let’s hope that the Councils use it to ensure small shops have the chance to survive.  Let’s face it; the communities that we serve would have quite literally been stuck over the past few weeks if the small shops were no longer trading.