George Eustice, Member of Parliament for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle has today joined the calls of Cornish colleagues in asking people to 'Think Local, Shop Local' when shopping in Cornwall.
Cornwall’s Members of Parliament are calling on people to shop locally when retail re-opens on the 15th of June. Hundreds of businesses across Cornwall have been forced to shut due to the COVID-19 pandemic and they will see their first week of trading after several months.
Launching the campaign, Scott Mann, MP for North Cornwall said, “Businesses across Cornwall have made a huge sacrifice by shutting and helping to stop the spread of COVID-19, many of them have taken out loans to cover costs and overheads. We can show our support by thinking about what we need to buy and making a choice to shop locally. Our great Cornish economy can provide everything we need, right on our doorstep. From food, to DIY products, and everything in between. If each of us buys something locally when retail reopens, we can really make a difference. That is why I am launching our ‘Think local, shop local’ campaign.”
George Eustice, MP for Camborne and Redruth said, "Over the course of the past 10 weeks, many of us have started to shop more local and depend on our local communities for basic supplies. As the effects of COVID-19 are still being felt it is right that we continue to support these businesses and continue to shop locally. By thinking and shopping local, we can rebuild our great Cornish economy and truly make a difference to people's livelihoods."
Sheryll Murray, MP for South East Cornwall said, "There is no doubt that our economy has been hit by this pandemic and we must all now do what we can to get it back on its feet. Our economy is very reliant on tourism and hospitality and these are the areas that have been affected the most. That is why I am joining my Parliamentary colleagues across Cornwall to urge people to source locally where they can so that we can get the fabulous Duchy economy moving again. “
Steve Double, MP for St Austell and Newquay said: “These are difficult times for local businesses, and we can support them by choosing to buy local as much as we possibly can. We have all become accustomed to buying from the internet in recent weeks. But let us be determined not to make that a permanent habit and get back to buying from our many excellent Cornish local shops and businesses whenever we can.”
Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro and Falmouth said, “Cornwall and Cornish businesses produce and sell a huge variety of goods and I would like to encourage as many people to shop local. It just feels like the right thing to do. It will be fantastic if we can all join together in this effort to help our small local businesses recover from the hardship of the Covid pandemic and ensure a brighter future for Cornish families.”
High street retailers and department stores, including book shops, electronics retailers, tailors, auction houses, photography studios, indoor markets, and shops selling clothes, shoes and toys, will be allowed to open their doors again provided they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines set out by the government in May.
Retailers will need to take certain steps to protect customers and staff, including limiting the number of customers allowed inside at one time, placing protective coverings on large items such as sofas which may be touched by passing shoppers, and frequently checking and cleaning objects and surfaces.
Employers should also display a notice visibly in their shop windows or outside their store to show their employees, customers, and other visitors that they have followed this guidance.
