Big Red Sales founder John Reddington has urged the Government to “get tough” to save the high street.
In a Letter to the Editor of The Sunday Times published last month (Feb 14), he praises the controversial proposed tax for online sales as “wonderful news”, but adds: “I have sympathy with the Government’s efforts on many fronts, but it must take more action on the decline of our high streets.”
And he continues: “While our shops struggle under the burden of high rates, rents and fixed costs, the abuse and avoidance of our tax system by businesses such as Amazon is obscene. It is time to get tough.”
Speaking to Retra’s Alert magazine, Mr Reddington (pictured) said: “Our local high street shops, not least our electrical retailers, have proved their immense value to consumers during lockdown. ‘Local’ has become a very key word during the pandemic, as consumers have really appreciated their high street traders, and the lengths to which these retailers have gone to serve them. This is something we must cling on to. The Government must act quickly if we are to maintain our local neighbourhoods.”
