SHOPPERS are being urged to give independent stores a try when Small Business Saturday rolls around next week.

The national event looks to both celebrate and raise awareness of local traders, and the head of Weston’s Business Improvement District (BID) called on the town’s residents to get behind local business ahead for the big day on December 6.

Paul Batts, Weston’s BID chairman, said small business was ‘vital’ for keeping the town’s economy ticking over to stop shopping districts becoming ‘faceless’.

Mr Batts said: “It would be great to see people checking out independent stores next Saturday, I’m sure they would be very pleased with what they find.

“The small businesses are what keep the town ticking over and they are vital - but it’s easy to get a bit lazy and sit at home ordering things over the internet.

“The big companies promise everything in terms of delivery to your door but it takes away from the real business in the high streets employing local people, and that’s why a lot of our town centres are struggling, and we are in danger of ending up with a lot of faceless places.”

Mr Batts revealed the BID team had been in discussions with North Somerset Council over relaxing parking charges for Small Business Saturday, but their request had been turned down.

He said: “We have tried to implement free parking, just for that day, but it has been rebuffed by the council unfortunately. It would be a nice thing to do and they do it in other places around the country - they will point to financial considerations but it is only one day.”