Small retailers need a 'level playing field' to compete with retail parks, says business bosses High streets in Wales need a plan to help small shops through their economic difficulties, says a business group. The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales (FSB) said ministers must draw up a retail strategy to support traders.
They want new supermarkets schemes to have a study on their effect on local stores and for shopping developments to subsidise space for smaller outlets.
The Welsh Government said discussions with the business organisation were under way.
The FSB said its 10,000 members in Wales had been ignored as an area for active business support despite small traders being a cornerstone of local economies.
Small retailers provide and environmentally beneficial service to communities and contribute to the health of other businesses, such as tourism, its said.
The organisation said that before May's assembly elections politicians had signed up to the idea of "keeping trade local" and those pledges must now be made real with a retail strategy.
Level-playing field
It is calling for:
• Compulsorily independent retail impact assessments on all supermarket developments
Continue reading the main storySusan Morris has two full-time and two part-time staff at her store in Llandudno, Conwy.
She said: "It's no good having a vibrant high street without a parking system that people can afford
"We're competing with the retail parks just as all the big companies - the Next clearance store and Mothercare - are leaving.
"The town centre is now split in two with the retail park at one end, empty shops in the middle and the independent shops at the other.
"My business used to be all year round but now we're very seasonal.
"Then there are the rents and rates. There are no new businesses starting up because it's just not worth it for them."
• Affordable or subsidised retail units to be a condition of new shopping developments• A business crime unit for Wales
• More powers for planning authorities to hold off large developments and to preserve small local firms
• Town centre business rates to be affordable so high streets can compete against out-of-town retail parks
FSB Wales chair Janet Jones said: "All we want is a level playing field for small businesses.
"These policies clearly resonated with the parties before the election and as we hear every day of further high street struggles we need a clear vision now of how we can help the sector survive and flourish.
"What is important is that the commitments that the parties made pre-election on other issues that impact on small and medium-sized enterprises and our town centres are also acted upon."
Nigel Evans, joint owner of Starvin' Jacks, a coffee shop and diner with three outlets in Swansea, backed the FSB call.
Continue reading the main storyYou just pay it out to the council and get nothing back in return as it seems from my point of view”End Quote Nicole Burnett Businesswoman He told Radio Wales: "The biggest impact on us as a city in Swansea is out-of-town shopping. We have one of the highest concentrations in the UK. And the big advantage they have is free car parking.
"We've not taken the leadership of putting restrictions on planning. There is a place for out-of-town shopping, but in my view that's for large white goods where it's easy for the customer to drive up and get them."
Nicole Burnett, co-owner of Happy Days, a vintage homestore and artisan market in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, said up to 10% of her turnover went on business rates,
She said: "It is a lot and it's empty money. It's dead money. You just pay it out to the council and get nothing back in return as it seems from my point of view."
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "The minister has met with the FSB recently and had initial discussions around the issues they are raising."
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