Even David Cameron is 'Keeping Trade Local'.

We all know about the dreaded 'credit crunch' and if certain newspapers are to be believed, we're all going to drown in a sea of poverty. This is a national problem and unfortunately it's hitting the locals hardest.

Especially here in the North-West, with common market towns all around. Stallholders and finding their customers being forced to shop in corporate supermarkets as they simply have the best deals. Also the English high street is losing over 2,000 shops per year. This can't continue to happen.

Luckily then, the Lancashire Evening Post are throwing their support behind the Keep Trade Local Campaign (Federation OF Small Businesses). A worthwhile campaign which aims to put small businesses and independent shopowners at the heart of a bustling high street.

There are six aims for the Keep Trade Local Campaign:

* Planning - holding local councils to account when their policies fail to support businesses on their doorstep;
* Parking charges - fighting spiralling parking prices which are driving customers towards supermarket's and out-of-town retail park's free car parks;
* Business Rates Relief - tackling government rates which are five times more expensive for small businesses as a proportion of turnover than they are for large companies;
* Crime prevention - halting the 20% of crimes which are committed against business costing UK firms £12 billion a year;
* Post Office closures - stemming the tide of shutdowns of Post Offices which generate much needed footfall to local businesses;
* Public procurement - ensuring that small firms get an equal opportunity to land contracts off local and central government.

Whatever you're political stance is, if those in high profile places are supporting such a cause, this is only a positive thing. I say this because it transpires that everyone's favourite Tory, David Cameron has put his considerable mouth to good use and is also backing this extremely valuable campaign.

Read more at http://www.lep.co.uk/businessnews/Cameron-backs-LEP-campaign.4563131.jp

This is something we all need to support. The old Tesco adage of 'Every Little Helps' comes to mind. Do what you can, when you can.