Should Sunday trading laws be permanently relaxed in Croydon?
THE Government’s decision to relax Sunday trading laws for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics was hailed as a way to stimulate the economy. But with increasing pressures from the retail industry to make the situation permanent, Steven Freeman asks whether added convenience would really be a good thing...
TESCO'S at Purley Cross has often been accused of killing a once bustling high street.
And while the hypermarket sells most things the local independents stock – often at cheaper prices – its dominance is at least curbed once a week by Sunday trading laws.
But if the retail lobby has its way this may not be the case for much longer – as a relaxation brought in during the Olympics becomes the norm.
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Under current legislation, stores in England and Wales measuring more than 280 square metres can open for a maximum of six hours between 10am and 6pm on Sundays.
However, during the Olympics, shops could open later than 6pm - and many are lobbying for this change to be made permanent.
Amanda Davis, chairman of Coulsdon Business Partnership and owner of iWoman Boutique, believes the Government used the Olympics as an excuse to trial the scheme.
She said: "The measures, if they become permanent, will harm smaller businesses, because people will go to bigger shops where there is a level of choice which small businesses simply cannot compete against."
Sunny Patel, 25, owner of Good News in Brighton Road, said he would definitely be out of pocket.
He said: "We get a lot of sales after 5pm and 6pm on a Sunday and it would kill me and kill the Sunday trade.
"It's fine for Tesco, they already get to open as long as they want six days a week. I know it's good for jobs but it kills local shops. What about the local traders?
"We can't pay the Government the way they can but it's time a few rules were brought in that support us for a change."
But Asad Khan, from Smallworths in Selsdon, was more philosophical.
He said: "The issue presents a double-edged sword – for large businesses there will be benefits, but for smaller businesses it will be crippling.
"For the multibillion-pound corporations, if they are able to open for longer on Sundays they will put the local convenience stores out of business.
"In my opinion, people are not going to starve on a Sunday if their local supermarket is only open for six hours.
"I can see the objectives behind the plans from the Government's perspective, but I don't particularly agree with the idea.
"Although yes, giant corporations can provide the government with a lot of revenue, in terms of national insurance, taxes etc, if they do become ever more dominant than they already are, the smaller, independent businesses on the high street will be forced to close, creating ever more unemployment, so you are effectively giving in the one hand, and taking out of the other".
Despite facing a fight from small retailer industry, perhaps the supermarkets' biggest foe is likely to be the Christian lobby.
The vicar of Christ Church in Purley, the Reverend Charles Trefusis, said shopping on a Sunday made him feel uneasy.
He added: "As a Christian I'm concerned because Sunday should be kept as a special day.
"Personally I choose not to shop on a Sunday unless I really have to and if I do have to it always makes me feel uneasy.
"To keep Sunday as a day of rest is the right thing to do. Not doing so and extending trading hours is an attack on Christian Britain. It is eroding Christian heritage.
"Behind that, family life is damaged. I think communities can be harmed too."
Comments
by Ivor_Shed
Thursday, August 30 2012, 4:13PM
“DJ784 - it is you that is clearly out of touch with the majority in this country. Haven't you noticed that the churches are empty? People may be keeping Sunday as a 'special day' but that doesn't include any time for worship.
I have nothing against the Christian church telling people they shouldn't go out shopping on Sunday but most people seem to be ignoring this guidance. So all we are arguing about now is whether they can shop in a superstore or have to limit their buying to a local store.
Open everything and let the congregation decide.”
by DianaFrance
Thursday, August 30 2012, 4:08PM
“My only objection to Sunday trading is that the staff have no choice but to work on Sunday, whether they want to or not. When the law first changed, supermakets etc could not make people work on Sunday, it had to be voluntary. Now contracts have been changed and if the shop wants you to work on Sunday you can't say no.
I think many customers believe the staff have chosen to work on Sunday. Does it matter to the customer? It does to me.”
by Dj784
Thursday, August 30 2012, 2:51PM
“UpTheOXOTower, you are clearly out of touch with the christian majority in this country.
In my opinion all shops should be closed on a Sunday, all people who shop then could shop on other days, so shops could still make the same profit, and people who work in shops could get a day off.”
by realtestman
Thursday, August 30 2012, 1:33PM
“UpTheOXOTower, still a christian country and will be for a long time yet, multicultural or not.”
by UpTheOXOTower
Thursday, August 30 2012, 10:16AM
“I'm not sure why, in this day and age, we still have this notion that we must keep Sunday as a special day in respect of some magical sky wizard. We are a multi-cultural society now, linking the trading hours to the church is no longer applicable, surely? If you disagree - fine, don't shop on a Sunday but is it fair to remove the ability for others based on your faith?
As much as we would like to support local businesses, common sense often prevails - why pay more in times of hardships that are being faced by so many?”