'Stand by our local shops', urges Buckie councillor
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A BUCKIE councillor has called on local people to support shops and other businesses in the area.
With the effects of the pandemic, rising bills and a squeeze on incomes, among many other factors, making trading conditions arguably more difficult than they have been for a long time, Councillor Sonya Warren (Buckie, SNP) has urged people in the area to rally round their local businesses.
"The pressures on our local shops and businesses just seem to keep on rising," she said.
"Between the rising utility bills, Brexit costs and inflation, plus the increase in National Insurance contributions, the burdens and overheads being faced by small businesses and shops has never been greater.
"Most have managed to stand strong during the Covid pandemic but are now giving to face even harder trading conditions. It really us a perfect storm being faced by our SME [Small and Medium-sized Enterprises], there is no respite from any angle.
"Everyone is having to tighten their belts going into this harsh cost of living crisis, but I do encourage everyone to support our local shops and businesses as much as possible. Many of them stuck with us through Covid, finding ways to support us and make sure we had access to the goods and services, now it's our turn to stand by them and help them survive these harsh trading times.
"There are enough empty store fronts in our main street as it is, we don't want to see any more."
With a number of lockdowns of varying severity hitting trade since March 2020, the economy was dealt a further blow when the omicron variant of Covid hammered what was expected to be lucrative festive season. Particularly severely hit by the pandemic has been the tourism and hospitality industries, both key contributors to the Moray economy.
Efforts are under way in the region to try and breathe new life into town centres like Buckie.
February 7 saw two pop-up shops open in Buckie, the first to do so as part of the Moray Economic Recovery Plan, which runs until 2023. Following a successful pilot in Keith, the scheme offers small and start-up businesses the chance to operate from premises that would otherwise be empty.
Moray Council is now encouraging owners of other vacant premises in Forres, Elgin, Keith, Dufftown, Lossiemouth and Aberlour to join the scheme that benefits the community while ensuring their property remains looked after and heated.
Currently out for public consultation are ambitious plans to revitalise Buckie town centre, including improving digital connectivity in the middle of town, various measures to stimulate footfall and sprucing up shop fronts.
The full range of proposals can be found at www.moray.gov.uk, clicking on the Council and Governance then Meetings tabs to get to the Planning and Regulatory Services Committee meeting information. On the meeting agenda, go to issue number nine on the planning committee's agenda, as well as the individual appendixes.
The consultation runs until 5pm on March 14. Responses can be submitted via an online form at www.moray.gov.uk
The proposals, can also be duscussed via virtual one-to-one sessions – email localdevelopmentplan@moray.gov.uk, stating the draft plan or proposals you would like to discuss and which day and time would be suitable.
pop up shops/town centre plans
