An MP is warning that small independent shops will become a thing of the past unless a law is brought in to protect them.

David Lepper, Labour MP for Brighton Pavilion, is calling for a Sustainable Communities Bill to stop big supermarket companies such as Tesco and Asda muscling in on independent retailers.

The number of newsagents has dropped by 10,000 since 1996 and during the last five years, about 5,000 independent retailers have closed.

Mr Lepper said the trend was leaving elderly people isolated, as they could no longer visit their local post offices or newsagents.

He said: "Just in the last three years three sub-post offices have closed near where I live in the Fiveways area of Brighton, in Ditchling Road, Loder Road and Havelock Road.

"The same thing is happening across Brighton and Hove, and it's not just post offices.

"The big supermarkets are forcing more and more shops out of business because they are branching out of their traditional food sales and offering products like clothing, electrical items, CDs and DVDs."

He is helping traders in North Laine and The Lanes set up a business group to encourage trade and battle rising rents.

Valerie Paynter, of the Save Hove campaign group, said she has seen dozens of quirky independent shops disappear. She said formerly impressive shopping streets such as George Street in Hove and London Road in Brighton faced a bleak future.

She said: "I tried but I couldn't wake shopkeepers in George Street up to the dangers of Tesco. Now there are six branches in Hove and the small businesses are suffering.

"Food prices fell by seven per cent last year, which is good for consumers, but it's short-term gain for a long-term loss.

"Communities will suffer when the only places to go shopping are large supermarkets you have to drive to."

Peter Stoker, secretary of the North Laine Traders' Association, said he was worried Britain was following the example of America, where about £5 of every £60 is spent at Wal-Mart, the US version of Asda.

A meeting to discuss the Sustainable Communities Bill will be held at The Brighton Centre in Kings Road from 7.30pm on Thursday.

Friday, May 12, 2006