A WHITEHAVEN businessman has made an impassioned plea to shoppers to save the high street - after witnessing a disturbing slide in an already vulnerable market.

Gerard Richardson, who sells wines, spirits and coffee, explained that trade has been hit or miss for a decade or so now since the financial crash, with ebbs and flows, but the problem is the ’steady’ flows are getting lower, and he believe it's now at a critical point. 

He said that in over two decades of trading, one day this week was his worst ever. 

Mr Richardson said: "I know some folk will think this is a well-off businessman calling for help but this is actually a businessman who for 27 years has put the community first; and now in what has been a really awful year personally, is just asking on behalf of all shops for locals to give a thought to every purchase.

"If you can spare a purchase for the town centre then please do so.

"Our own shop for example has long accepted that its main trade is in the gift end of the market.

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"With most of the rest like the general sales going to the supermarkets, wine clubs and Amazon but we are now seeing a major drop in that market as well and to be honest, there’s nothing left if that goes.

"This time of the year when the weather changes and there’s a long gap until the usual feel-good month of December is always a vulnerable time for retailers but what we are witnessing right now is the worst for 27 years and the solutions are with our own community. 

"Ultimately pricking consciousnesses only works in short burst and if our own business for example genuinely is now a business out of time, we will figure that out and sadly close.

"But if, as I suspect, this is the result of weeks and weeks of the national news telling everyone how bad life is, then please see beyond the headlines, think about every purchase and if you can even share 10d per cent with the high street."

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