'˜Let Scarborough decide when shops open on a Sunday'

SCARBOROUGH SCENE SETTER --- Scene setter of Scarborough landmarks. // Westborough. Saturday 18th July 2015. HARRY ATKINSON

Tory Derek Bastiman is one of 190 councillors or MPs who have co-signed a letter asking for Sunday trading laws to be devolved to councils.

Filey MP Kevin Hollinrake and Bridlington’s Sir Greg Knight also signed the letter, published in The Telegraph.

There are growing calls for stringent Sunday opening times to be expanded, with claims it would give a billion pound boost to the British economy.

The Scarborough News asked Cllr Bastiman what impact it would have on the town’s economy but he has yet to respond.

However the group state they support Government’s plans to devolve the laws to local level.

“The world has changed a great deal since Sunday trading laws were last updated in 1994,” states the letter.

“Nowadays people rightly expect greater flexibility in all aspects of their lives, and being able to shop when it’s convenient is one such freedom.

“Our high streets have been left trying to compete with 24/7 online shopping.”

A report published this week backed modernising the laws, stating it would leave the average family £64 a year better off and slash unemployment.

And the letter adds: “We believe that the best way to determine whether large shops should open for longer than six hours on a Sunday in Britain is to hand this decision to local communities.”