A Wandsworth councillor is urging residents to keep shopping locally in the recession to stop smaller businesses going bust.

Cabinet member for regeneration James Cousins said the council has already slashed small business rates in an attempt to save the borough’s independent shops but it is now down to residents to keep local trades alive.

“The council is doing as much as we can, but what we need is people to go and spend money in local shops rather than in big retail developments outside the borough.

“Everyone is feeling the pinch. Trade is down. People are spending less. But they should think about where they are spending it rather than how much.”

Trader Amelia Brady, who owns Brady’s Fish and Chip Restaurant in Old York Road, said: “I have been here for almost 20 years and although we are surviving the credit crunch reasonably so far, there are many shopowners who aren’t.

“If more people shopped locally it would save them a lot of petrol money and they would see we are often a lot better value for money than they think.”

Wandsworth town centre manager Ian Taitte said: “It is important to shop locally and keep small businesses alive in these difficult times.

"We need support from residents to be able to do that. This will provide help not just to local businesses but for the town centre too.”

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