Warrington must fight sunday trading changes

WARRINGTON should oppose any changes to Sunday trading hours, according to MP Helen Jones.
The Warrington North MP is calling on the borough council to say “no” to any changes following he announcement in the Budget that a consultation will take place on the issue and that council could be given the power to make changes.
Ms Jones was critical of the announcement which, she says, represents a U-turn by the prime minister who is living up to his “Dodgy Dave” tag.
She said the campaign group Keep Sundays Special said it had, in April, received a letter on behalf of the Prime Minister which stated there were no plans to relax the current laws.
Ms Jones said: “ The Prime Minister and his government have made a U-turn on this issue in a matter of months.
“The current law is working well – giving everyone a little bit of what they want. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shop workers can spend some time with their families.
“Since 2010 there have been two consultations on extending Sunday trading and twice the government decided not to proceed because of the overwhelmingly negative response they received from retailers, customers and shopworkers. The trial, extending Sunday trading hours during the London Olympics, was an almighty flop.
“Seventy seven per cent of the public support the current laws and of the 20 per ccent opposed to them, over half wanted no opening at all and nearly a quarter wanted a reduction in opening times.
“The last thing that retailers need is a race to open 24 hours a day 7 days a week, resulting in a big increase in overheads and no increase in revenue through the tills.
“Warrington should stand up to the government and make clear that, if they are given the powers to vary Sunday opening times, they will not do so and will oppose this proposal which can only create chaos in the retail sector.“