Don’t change Sunday Trading Laws during the Olympics

The Chancellor George Osborne is leading moves that will allow large stores in England and Wales* to remain open all day on Sunday across the 8 consecutive weeks of the Olympics, claiming this will add nearly £180m to the economy.

The ACS (the Association of Convenience Stores) has hit back at the plans saying that data from retailers suggest such a move will cost local shops £480m in lost sales as customers head would head to big out of town supermarkets instead.

[button bg=”#de1b2e” color=”#ffffff” link=”https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31526 ” ]Click here to sign the Epetition against the proposed changes.[/button]

ACS Chief Executive James Lowman said: “This will cost convenience stores £1,500 in sales per day, We fear this is the thin end of the wedge, and that supermarket lobbyists will persuade the Government to extend these provisions on a permanent basis.”

EDIT *Scotland does not have any restrictions over Sunday Trading however most shops operate limited opening hours on Sundays anyway. Northern Ireland has separate laws regarding Sunday Trading.