Opinion: Support Our Local Newtown Shops this Christmas

Last week, I began my Christmas shopping in small, local, independent shops, and I urge everyone to consider shopping locally in the lead-up to Christmas, writes Russell George MS.

In what has been an incredibly challenging year for our business community, we must do all we can to support small, local businesses and independent traders this Christmas, or we risk losing them forever.

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Collectively, small businesses are the heart and soul of our town centres. They don’t just represent people’s livelihoods but their entire lives. I will be actively supporting the Small Business Saturday campaign; this annual celebration highlights the importance of supporting local enterprises that form the backbone of our local economy.

I cannot stress enough how small businesses not only provide essential services and unique products but also strengthen the social fabric by creating local jobs and fostering community pride. We are fortunate in Montgomeryshire to have such fantastic and varied small businesses, but with the continuing changes to the retail scene, they need our support to keep our high streets alive.

As a former small shop owner myself, I was delighted last month to be elected Chair of the Welsh Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Small Shops. I intend to use this role to advocate for local and small businesses, ensuring their voices are heard. One of the first issues we have focused on is access to cash. This is crucial for communities across Wales, especially in rural areas where many residents rely on cash transactions.

We must work together to safeguard cash access, ensuring that people can fully engage with their local economies and maintain the health of our high streets. I look forward to leading this group in promoting policies that support small shops and enhance financial inclusivity.

It was good to visit Harold Owen (pictured) a business that opened in Newtown in 1969. Great range of home accessories and a great personal service, I even got my present wrapped! Over the coming weeks, I intend to visit and promote small businesses in our main towns and would welcome invitations to visit if you are a small business owner.

Our local high streets are instrumental in bringing people together – acting as meeting places for friends and families while supporting jobs for local people. Let’s do all we can to ensure that our high streets can flourish.

Whilst visiting local shops in Newtown, it was also a good opportunity to attend the Christmas lights switch on. A firework display followed which was visible from both High Street and Broad Street. A great community event in the run up to the Christmas period.

Russell George MS
Member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire