Shop local and protect our high streets says Lib Dems

Manchester needs a huge boost to promote small businesses ahead of Christmas and stop the decline of our high streets. Manchester Liberal Democrats are calling on the City Council to get behind the first ever Small Business Saturday campaign on 7 December. Small Business Saturday has been massively successful in America where it has encouraged people to shop and eat local on the busiest shopping day of the year.

On Wednesday Manchester Liberal Democrats are putting forward a Council Motion asking the Council to back and promote the campaign, support local businesses and learn lessons from the day. The motion also asks for a report on how the Council can ease the pressures high streets face from pay day loan companies, bookmakers, pawnbrokers and businesses too reliant on the night time economy.

Chorlton Lib Dem Councillor Victor Chamberlain, who is putting forward the motion, says: “Small Business Saturday is a fantastic way of supporting Manchester’s small businesses and recognising the massive benefit they bring to our communities and the thousands of Mancunians they employ.

Many of our small businesses are facing huge pressures and we’re seeing the impact on the high street. Too many high streets are blighted by pay day loan companies, bookies and excessive takeaways and licensed premises. Our motion is calling for the Council to learn the lessons from Small Business Saturday so it can continue to support local shops and business people.”

The Liberal Democrat motion is Item 10 on the Council’s Agenda: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/1916/council

For more information on Small Business Saturday see: http://www.smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/SmallBusinessSaturdayUK