The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) and Petrol Retailers’ Association (PRA) has called on the government to retain Sunday Trading regulations. The move follows comments made by Communities and Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles who suggested the government may review Sunday trading laws when the temporary relaxation of restrictions over the Olympics period comes to an end on September 8. ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "The temporary change this summer has simply diverted trade from small to large stores. Current Sunday Trading rules are the only competitive edge that local shops have over their much larger counterparts and removing that advantage could be disastrous for many convenience stores."
The government has considered a review of the regulations a number of times in recent years. In passing legislation to extend Sunday opening for the duration of the Olympics, Ministers re-assured Parliament that it was not a pre-cursor to long-term changes on Sunday trading.
PRA chairman Brian Madderson added: "Our members are already suffering from reduced fuel volumes and margins. If they were to lose the advantage of competitive opening hours under a change to Sunday Trading laws they would suffer further losses of shop takings as well."
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