Save Our Small Shops

The Evening Standard is championing the capital's independent shops in a world increasingly dominated by vast supermarkets and chain stores.

London has lost more than 7,000 individual or family-owned shops in the past six years.

The campaign has been backed by thousands of businesses, consumers, MPs and even royalty.

Less than a fortnight after its launch, Prince Charles told a CBI conference that small shops must remain a central part of our economy to generate "wealth and employment".

A victory came almost immediately, when the Government announced it would scrap tax breaks for landlords who keep retail premises empty, bolstering the number of high street sites available for small retailers.

Since then the campaign has gone from strength to strength, securing both the future of Queens Market in Upton Park, one of London's best-known ethnic markets, and an array of award-winning independent food retailers in Northcote Road.

In June this year, 39 MPs from all parties welcomed our 18-month long campaign and signed an early day motion calling for the Government and councils to do more to protect and encourage small retailers.

It warned that "if planning policy is not changed the remaining small shops that give high streets their character will vanish".