Please support your local businesses over the festive period

Small businesses are at the heart of our local economy and it is vital we support them in the run up to this crucial festive period.

I was delighted to be at the reopening of the Barnstaple Pannier Market which came as part of the Future High Street project, with £6.5million of government investment going towards the revitalisation of the market quarter.

It was lovely to see so many people come to support and report on the event. I had the chance to speak with Jeff Moody from GB News and the BBC who were there on the day.

Congratulations to everyone involved and I hope that many of you will be able to do your Christmas shopping in the newly restored market.

I often visit the Pannier Market and in the summer I saw for myself the improvements that were made especially, with access to the toilets.

Again, I would like to reassure those of you who have written to me with their concerns about Barnstaple town centre that the combination of Safer Streets and the Future High Streets funding, along with the work being done by groups like Barnstaple in Bloom, working with Barnstaple Town Council and our town centre manager is all making a significant difference.

There has also been additional government funding to North Devon Council to help provide pods to help rough sleepers off the street.

I am delighted that in the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced the fourth consecutive freeze to the small business rates multiplier, saving an average shop £1,650, and have extended the Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief for eligible businesses, this comes on top of billions of support with energy bills after the energy price shock.

However, whilst this is all positive news, there is more to do in supporting hospitality and we can all help by supporting our local bars, pubs and restaurants over the coming festive season.

I have created a survey for high street businesses in North Devon which can be found at: https://www.selainesaxby.org.uk/high-street-business-survey.

I will be sharing the results with the council and the local Chamber of Commerce, so that together we can really make a real change to our high streets and ensure that they continue to thrive. 

Having had Small Business Saturday on December 2, I want to reiterate my support for the sector.

Since its inception in 2013, the Small Business Saturday campaign has engaged millions of people and has made a real difference to local businesses - consumer spending with small businesses on the Saturday alone has topped more than £1 billion in recent years.

Small businesses are the backbone of North Devon, providing the jobs, the growth and the revenue that help our area flourish.

I am always happy to meet with any business in North Devon, please do email my office via selaine.saxby.mp@parliament.uk

I hope that everyone will have a chance to support their local business through shops, bars and restaurants throughout the festive period.