Residents urged to “buy local” to help Cheshire traders beat the recession

CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has launched a campaign to persuade residents to ‘Buy Local’ in a bid to help traders get through the current recession.

With Christmas and the January sales just around the corner, we are asking people to try to ensure they spend with local businesses wherever possible, rather than shopping elsewhere.

‘Bouncing Back’ is a multi-faceted campaign that signposts both residents and businesses to a wide range of help and advice. As part of campaign today sees the ‘Buy local’ initiative kick off.

Businesses can download and display a poster from the Council’s campaign website (www.bouncingback.org.uk). In addition buinesses can sign up to the campaign and their web address will be added to the Bouncing Back website.

People can sign up to pledge to shop locally (buylocal@bouncingback.org.co.uk).

Commenting on the new campaign, Cllr Stuart Parker, Chairman of the Council’s Recession Recovery Committee, said: "We want people to get behind this campaign and really support it.

“Shopping locally will help boost the economy throughout the borough because it will help protect local jobs. Supporting independent traders is particularly helpful as profits from these sorts of businesses are more likely to be re-invested locally.”

“But buying local is only part of the campaign. We want to ensure that people are aware of, and encouraged to access the wide range of help and support that is is available to help them though the recession.”

Cllr Parker added: “Working in partnership is core to our recovery plan. We are working closely with others to deliver help in many different settings, from skills and training, to grant support and debt and benefit advice and help. I would encourage everyone to log onto our website and find out about the help and support available to them.”

The campaign website www.bouncingback.org.uk sets out how buying local can help the borough through the recession. It also has links to local businesses and a section where residents can pledge their support, as well as links to a wide range of other information.