Claim on decline of small shops

Smaller shops in Wem are being crippled by big retailers, a councillor has warned.

Councillor John Murray said at least four small businesses in the town had been forced to close their doors over the last six months and more were suffering.

The North Shropshire District and Wem town councillor today hit out at bigger stores and urged people to continue shopping locally and support the rural economy.

“If we want to maintain our small rural shops in the high street then we should shop local. It’s all too easy to order on the net but we must at all costs support our high street,” he said.

Councillor Murray pinpointed the Tesco store at Harlescott, Shrewsbury, as being a large factor in people not spending money locally.

Doug Forrester, who owns R Johnson’s butchers in Wem, said his businesses had not been affected badly by newer retail giants, but felt local shops in general are in decline.

“We will never get Wem back on its feet like it used to be,” he said.

A spokesman for Tesco said: “There are many reasons why businesses come and go, not all of them are to do with Tesco.”