Rippeth Signs up to Support Local Businesses

6.02.33pm GMT Sat 20th Feb 2010

Wrexham Liberal Democrat candidate Dr Tom Rippeth has signed up to the new Wrexham Savers loyalty card scheme.

Commenting, Tom Rippeth said:

"Thriving high streets are at the heart of local communities."

"The launch of the Wrexham Savers card is local action by local people to help local businesses. I very much welcome this action and call on the Government to do more to help local businesses at this difficult time."

"But it has been our high streets that have borne the brunt of this recession, with boarded up shops in Wrexham and the surrounding villages."

"The Labour Government has overseen the rapid decline of the post office network leading to even fewer people visiting the local shops."

"The Government has tilted the planning system in favour of the haphazard expansion of ubiquitous supermarkets at the expense of hard-pressed independent stores."

"The financial crisis has exposed Labour and the Conservatives' folly of being entirely dependent on the City of London. The Liberal Democrats understand that it will be small businesses that are key to building a healthy and balanced economy."

Liberal Democrat proposals to revitalise the High Street:

The document includes proposals to:

• Encourage the development of a PostBank and free the Post Office from the Royal Mail to enable it to develop new business

• Introduce a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail developments to establish a fairer balance between local independent stores and large supermarkets

• Establish a system of Local Enterprise Funds and regional stock exchanges to ensure small businesses get access to cost effective equity that meets their needs

Further details of the Wrexham Savers Scheme can be found at:

www.Wrexhamsavers.co.uk