BRIGHTON and Hove councillors are worried about the closure of many corner shops in the two towns.

But there is little that they can do to stop the trend. If they refuse planning permission, the shops will stay empty, dragging down the appearance of neighbourhoods. At present the council insists on empty shops being marketed at reasonable rents for a year before conversions are allowed and in most cases this produces little commercial interest. Small shops face strong competition from some of the most ruthless and efficient businesses in Britain, the superstore chains. All the proprietors can do is to offer services that the superstores do not normally manage such as personal attention, the sale of speciality goods and home deliveries. Then if people really want small shops, they will have to go to them for at least some of their goods. They must use them or lose them.

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