fishpondsvoice
28
May, 2021
n FROM OUR MP
Our high streets still need support
I
T has been such a relief to see restaurants, shops, and hairdressers open their doors again. It is cause for optimism and heralds a more hopeful year ahead, but after the tough year they’ve had, these businesses still need support. The re-opening of charity shops offers us the chance to donate stuff from that inevitable lockdown clear-out. I’ve pledged to ‘Buy Better’ by supporting my local charity shops and sustainable businesses in Bristol East. In the UK every week 13 million clothing items are sent to landfill. Fast fashion is cheap and convenient, but sustainable consumption benefits both the economy and the planet. I’ve been speaking to food stall owners who would usually depend on fairs, markets, and festivals to make a living, but have been denied support from the Government because they haven’t been classified as an official “hospitality company”.
Smaller businesses have taken on loans to survive and now face mounting debt, while young people in unstable employment have been hit hardest by job losses. Indeed, nationally nearly 180,000 retail jobs were lost in the UK in 2020. Even before the pandemic the Government was overseeing a continued decline of our high streets with the closure of 9,775 shops, 5,785 pubs, 7,400 bank branches and 1,195 libraries in the last decade. The greatest impact this has is on the surrounding communities. Much like the recent European Super League debacle, there is a failure to recognise local institutions as vital community assets. Whether it be football clubs or your favourite café, they’re being sold to the highest bidder, with little consideration for the contribution they make to people’s social lives. Labour is launching a new Rebuilding Our High Streets Commission which will bring
together industry experts, local government cooperative and social enterprise sectors, and local residents to determine how the high streets can thrive. It’s essential to give people a say, so that the places we shop, socialise, meet and work serve local people rather than private property developers, with no knowledge of the local area. By bringing empty commercial properties back into use for existing and new businesses we have an opportunity to reimagine these communal spaces as vibrant and sustainable hubs of activity. The rise of online retail is inevitable but for them to co-exist, we must level the playing field between bricks and mortar businesses and online firms. It can’t be right that Amazon’s CEO increases his wealth by $70billion throughout lockdown, while business rates payments leave beloved pubs facing bankruptcy. On a national level, I’ll be
Kerry McCarthy MP for Bristol East
writes for Fishponds Voice
pushing for improved investment and protection for small businesses. But in Fishponds we can all make a difference too, by shopping locally and sustainably to support the high street.
Higher Education
The world is your stage with the Bristol Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA). Our degrees have an emphasis on learning and training through practice. BIPA provides an environment in which you will be able to take creative risks whilst developing your theatrical training, professional network and future employment opportunities. Situated at the WISE campus in North Bristol, BIPA facilities are some of the best in the South West, including a commercial 250 seat main house theatre, 80 seat studio theatre, a production workshop and 10 dance and rehearsal studios. We offer courses in the following areas: Acting, Dance, Live Events, Prosthetics & Digital Design, Model Making, Musical Theatre, Specialist Make-up Design and Touring Theatre. Join us at one of our upcoming open events on Thursday 29th April and Saturday 3rd July 2021. To reserve your place visit www.thebipa.org.uk.
W: www.thebipa.org.uk | T: 0117 9092376 | E: bipa@sgscol.ac.uk
To advertise, contact Caroline on 07453 954261
Email: sales@fishpondsvoice.co.uk
Got News? Call Linda On 0777 0700579