WELSH Conservatives, the opposition to the Welsh Labour Government, has launched a package of proposals to make it easier for small businesses in Gwent to set up pop-up shops and take over empty premises. Wales has the UK’s highest high street vacancy rate, with a sixth of high street shops empty and boarded up, dragging down the image and reputation of our town centres.

Christmas and the New Year sales are the most important time of the year for many small retail businesses, and seasonal pop-up shops should be able to make the most of this lucrative period. Welsh Conservatives would scrap business rates for the period of opening, encourage Christmas Miles schemes to promote local shopping and help local authorities with free parking to ease access to local high streets.

Small businesses are the backbone of the Welsh economy and it is vital that at this critical time in the retail calendar, the Welsh Government does everything possible to encourage local economic growth and job creation.

William Graham AM, Shadow Minister for Business, National Assembly for Wales