THE important role convenience stores play in the community was celebrated by North Cornwall Conservative MP Scott Mann at a parliamentary reception last week.

Mr Mann met convenience store retailers representing more than 16,000 stores at the Association of Convenience Stores’ Heart of the Community reception to celebrate the important role local shops play.

ACS Heart of the Community is an annual event, which brings together retailers from across the country with MPs to voice their concerns about the future of the sector.

Mr Mann said: “Local shops provide essential goods and services in our communities and it is vital that all MPs show support for these retailers both in Westminster and the local area.

“These stores really are at the heart of our communities and the Government must do everything they can to ensure that they succeed during this difficult economic time.”

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “We welcome the support of Scott Mann MP in recognising the importance of the 123 convenience stores and the 973 jobs they provide in North Cornwall.

“Businesses face many competing challenges, from rising business rates and energy bills to increasing pressure from competitors. It is now more important than ever that MPs engage with their local small business community, and work to ensure Government cuts and new regulations will not harm small business or undermine consumer confidence.”

Whitstone Village Store owner Dan Cock said: “It was fantastic to be able to meet with Scott, he was very accommodating and was clearly interested in helping convenience stores like ours.

“With many pubs in rural areas closing, village and convenience stores are the last central meeting place for villagers. It is great to have the support of Scott so we can get our voices heard in Westminster, as stores like ours are essential in rural communities for residents who don’t want to travel out to larger towns to buy everyday essentials.”

The ACS Local Shop Report 2015 revealed that there are 51,524 convenience stores in mainland UK making up a sector that is now worth £37.7billion, a growth of 5% on 2014. Nationally, the convenience store sector provides jobs for over 407,000 people.