Councils will be able to ‘draw a red line’ around town centres to ensure high street shops benefit from changes to Sunday trading laws, a minister has claimed.
Brandon Lewis, the local government minister, told a national newspaper councils would be empowered to limit liberalised trading rules to small, town centre shops to level the playing field with large outlet stores.
The proposed changes to the Sunday trading laws are part of the upcoming Enterprise Bill and are designed to encourage people to visit high street stores more by allowing shops to stay open longer.
Critics have, however, pointed out that while there was a slight amendment to the bill last week, it essentially remains the same.
‘The amendment only clarifies that local authorities could extend Sunday trading hours to a “particular zone, district or street within the area” not that they would have to,’ the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said.
A spokesperson for the Keep Sunday Special campaign said: ‘There have been no extra amendments or changes to amendments put in place ahead of the vote this week to help town centres or draw a line around shopping districts.
‘The Government is attempting to press ahead with its original plans to give councils free reign over the Sunday trading hours in their area while trying to dress the plans up as helping high streets.’
Business secretary Sajid Javid attempted to reassure critics last month by emphasising the power to apply the new liberalised Sunday trading rules would be in the hands of local authorities - not Whitehall.
He said councils would be able to ‘zone’ any relaxation so they would be able to prioritise high streets and city centres.
However, a survey carried out by the ACS revealed 52% of local authority chief executives would include out of town retail parks and supermarkets, as well as large shopping centres as their first or second preference for extending opening hours on a Sunday.
It remains unclear whether Mr Lewis’ intervention will quell a potential Tory rebellion.