Region’s indie retailers divided over new 5p carrier bag charges

Over half of independent retailers across Greater Manchester and Cheshire believe they should have been included in the new carrier bag charge rules, according to a survey, although only a small number said they would actually apply the charges.

A poll carried out by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) found that 58% of the two counties’ small retailers think the law changes, which will see retailers with more than 250 employees forced to charge customers 5p per disposable carrier bag from October 5, should apply to firms of all sizes.

However, although the new law allows independent retailers to apply the charges if they wish to, the FSB survey found that just a small number would. Only 9% of respondents said they would bring in the 5p charge, with 78% saying they would not and 13% indicating that they may apply the charge at some point in the future.

The FSB’s regional chairman for Greater Manchester and North Cheshire, Simon Edmondson, said: “This research shows many smaller, independent retailers do have a strong sense of CSR, and are probably lot ‘greener’ than many people take them for.

“It also suggests that while the government may have thought it was doing small firms a favour by only legislating change to affect big business, this is clearly not a cut and dried issue for smaller firms.

He added: “The vast majority aren’t going to apply the charge and that’s no doubt for fear of upsetting customers, and that’s understandable.”

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