Support local businesses

2007 is the year when local communities begin to fight back against the growing centralisation of services by both business and Government.

In the last few years, an increasing number of people have shown their opposition to the power of large supermarkets and the way in which they are systematically destroying the vibrancy of our town centres. Now the time has come for all of us to play our own small part in helping the survival of our local communities and ensuring that we create a vibrant local economy, no matter how large or small our town or village.

Certainly, we can begin by providing our backing to local post offices, many of which are threatened by closure. Another is to make greater effort to buy our food and services locally.

For example, Gareth Vaughan, the President of the Farmers Union of Wales has urged councils in Wales to do more to help shoppers buy local products. This something I have been calling regularly for over the last few years in my columns in the Daily Post and Western Mail, especially in terms of supporting local businesses.

I believe that the people of Aberconwy can show the rest of Wales that local is best and take the lead in supporting the many small local businesses we have within the area.