Any small business is finding it hard at present.  The global economic downturn has hit everyone and no doubt we will still feel the impact in years to come.

Small shops and High Streets have been particularly hit and with the collapse of businesses such as Woolworths, our High Streets have changed beyond all recognition.

This Government has been renowned for its “spin” and did not hold back when telling our industry of how small shops and High streets would be better protected by the Planning policy PPS4 which came into force in December last year.  It promised to throw us a lifeline to try and ensure that the impact on already fragile Town Centres was key to any decision for a large, out of Town supermarket.  Whittlesey near Peterborough became a test case for the highly rated PPS4.  The local district council passed the Out of Town proposal for a Superstore and Petrol Station.  The Secretary of State intervened and stopped the decision being made by the Council pending further investigation.  Last week the Secretary of State allowed the decision to be put back in the hands of the District council.

At times like this, small businesses turn to their Councils for help, guidance and support.  The Government come up with headline grabbing soundbites telling us that they are doing all they can to help.  Then reality hits back.  They do not want to help at all but instead do all they can to support the big businesses.  The evolution over the years of High Streets becoming well tuned hearts pumping lifeblood into their communities has been totally reversed as this Government continues to support out of town shopping or so it would appear.  Market towns throughout the UK are quickly becoming clones and their unique mix of Butchers, Bakers, Greengrocers and speciality shops die quickly.  Its a grave shame that the public, that doesnt have the the same benefit of hindsight that the Government does,  will only realise what they have missed when it has eventually gone.