Small shopkeepers are asking the government to take action to safeguard the future for thousands of stores.

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) will go to the Government tomorrow with a 10-point action plan, according to the Telegraph.

The ACS, which represents over 33,500 small stores, will present the proposal, called the Heart of the Community campaign, asking for an abolition of minimum wage increases, lower business rates and changes to the ban on displaying tobacco.

Since the start if 2008 it is estimated that 12,000 independent shops have closed.

The ACS believes action is needed to make sure that local shops can come through the recession and emerge “healthily” on the other side. 

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