TRADERS in Ashburton, ‘teetering on the edge’, have called on MP Mel Stride to help get them a fair deal.

A letter from the 62 members of the Ashburton Chamber of Trade has asked for the Central Devon MP’s help to ‘ensure our survival’.

Lydia Wood, chair of the chamber, said: ‘Bricks and mortar shops are already teetering on a knife edge after an incredibly difficult year and as we find ourselves plunged back into another Lockdown, it feels like small businesses have been overlooked.

‘The Government have been quick to announce the Local Restrictions Grant for businesses who have been forced to close but why, may I ask, is it less than half of what we received in April?

‘The Chancellor has allowed a meagre £333.50 per week for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less. This won’t even cover the rent and expenses for most businesses.

‘It makes absolutely no sense why the Chancellor has allowed even less money at a busier time of year when our loss of earnings is far greater than it was during the first lockdown.

‘Not only are we faced with less support but we are losing vital revenue to “essential retailers” selling non-essential goods.

‘Large companies are capitalising on our closure and filling their shelves with Christmas gifts, clothes, books and toys while we are forced to sit back and watch.

‘It is a bitter pill to swallow after small businesses up and down the country have done all we possibly can to be Covid-secure.

‘We understand why businesses must close but the Government has to provide adequate support and protection if it wants us to survive and it must do so quickly.’

You can read the traders’ letter in full on page 18.

MP Mel Stride said: ‘Having met with Lydia this summer to offer my support in person I know just how hard she and the Chamber of Trade have worked to support local businesses.

‘In Westminster I have worked flat out to see that our local businesses receive as much support as possible.

‘As Chair of the Treasury Select Committee, I set up a full inquiry into the economic impact of the virus and made a number of key recommendations on the best way to support our hard presses local traders.

‘In the main the government has responded to this work, and locally here in Central Devon our businesses have received £26 million in grants, have saved £10 million in business rate relief and a further £80 million of loans have been provided through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and Bounce Back Loan Scheme.

‘In our constituency businesses have also benefited from being able to furlough more than 4,000 employees, and self-employed workers have received a further £10 million in grants.

‘I have also argued strongly against overly onerous lockdowns and that proposed lockdowns should be more clearly judged by their effect on local businesses as well as on public health – you can see me grilling the Treasury for more information on this at https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/9a14c6a5-8a79-468a-a4e4-630c8ce2abd8.

‘I am pleased that in around a week’s time when the national lockdown ends all our local retailers will be permitted to open regardless of the tier we are in and that traders in Ashburton and towns and villages right across our constituency will be able to benefit from vital sales in the run up to Christmas.

‘Looking into next year with recent progress on vaccines there is now real light at the end of a very dark tunnel.’

PICTURED: Lydia Wood, Chair of the Ashburton Chamber of Trade