Small businesses have called on Moray’s next MP to improve the local economy and mobile coverage in the communities.
The Federation of Small Businesses has released a manifesto which outlined its case to use the UK Towns Fund to enhance communities in the region.
The campaign group of local independent businesses has compiled statistics which show that some of Scotland’s small towns have faced upwards of 400 closures since the beginning of 2016.
The Federation of Small Businesses national councillor and owner of Forres-based Pearl’s Pet Care, Pearl Hamilton, is among those looking for the issue to be addressed.
She said: “In the last few years, Moray has been hit hard with a number of local banks and retailers closing and there’s no end in sight as many big-name brands continue to announce restructuring programmes.
“We have a strong small business base in Moray with 94% of registered business, which is 3,350 that are small or medium sized, delivering between them more than 60% of the area’s private sector jobs.”
She believes it is vital the next UK Government allocates a substantial share of the £3.6billion Towns Fund to small communities in Scotland.
Another point on the agenda was asking the next MP to take action on patchy mobile coverage in the north, which can negatively impact local businesses.
She added: “The next Westminster administration must dramatically improve Scotland’s mobile coverage provision, closing the connectivity gap between Scotland and England.”
