Senedd member Claire Archibald visited the Tenby store of Federation of Independent Retailers (The Fed) members Vince and Fiona Malone to see the role their shop and post office plays in the West Wales community.
Visit highlights social value of shops
Archibald, elected to the Senedd in May this year as a Reform candidate for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency, met the Malones at their Morrisons Daily – Tenby Stores and Post Office. The meeting highlighted the social value of shops and post offices, with emphasis on the 650 post offices across Wales.
The Malones stressed the high cost of business, citing business rates, commercial costs, and energy bills, and how these make it difficult to sustain small retail businesses despite their social value.
Deposit Return Scheme concerns
They also highlighted the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme for recycling bottles and cans, due to go live in October 2027, and the work The Fed is doing to help small shops prepare. They shared concerns about potential complexities in Wales linked to including glass in the scheme, which is scheduled to fully take effect after a four-year transition period until October 2031.
The Fed members raised concerns about retail crime and rogue trade on the High Street, reiterating The Fed's priority on enhancing resources for Neighbourhood Policing and Local Authority trading standards.
Positive meeting
Archibald said: “It was an extremely positive meeting and I look forward to working with Vince and Fiona in the future. I hope to meet with them again in the Senedd at some point and will also try and stop by the shop when I am in Tenby in the future!”
Vince and Fiona Malone added: “We would like to thank Claire for visiting us and for engaging openly on the issues affecting our business and community. The ball is now in the hands of the Senedd to ensure that these concerns are acted upon.”
