JUNE TRADE NEWS Manchester businesses look to council help to thrive Wholesaler praises local retailer Three convicted of selling fake goods on eBay Retailers rejoice as Tesco planning application is rejected Haul of illegal lighters seized by Trading Standards Canterbury MP pledges to fight illegal street traders Retailers report June slowdown Retailers welcome Edinburgh redevelopment approval Government to improve Cornish infrastructure eBay asks EU to look at online trading rules Tesco criticised over misleading planning application Chester's council looks to save city-centre retailers US firm gets tough on eBay counterfeiters Wholesalers report slowing sales in first quarter Government looks to extend Sunday openings for garden centres Merseyside bridge tolls worry small firms Retailers 'have shielded consumers from price rises' HMRC cutbacks 'could hurt small firms' Retail sales surge in the UK New Scottish unit looks to tackle rogue traders Welsh men face court for selling fake goods in eBay FPB backs Lords criticism of business tax changes Government urged not to add to retail pressure Small firms urged to continue to network Consumers plan to continue to buy clothes Retail sales in London soar Consumers 'still spending on green items' Businesses worried about sales in the coming months FSB blasts government agency workers deal NI retailers urged to tackle shoplifters Scottish SMEs told to use internet to reach global market Workplace stress 'hits small businesses hard' Lords say businesses hurt by tax changes Rail transport services 'could become cheaper for wholesalers' Organisers 'need to make sure SMEs get involved with 2012 projects' Consumer confidence plummets, hitting retail spending Manchester congestion charge 'could be bad news for small businesses' Retail sales recover in May Cambridgeshire business protest higher parking charges Women start small businesses to increase flexibility BRC calls for end to EU anti-dumping tariffs BRC welcomes interest rate decision eBay guilty of selling counterfeit goods Retailers not passing on 'full impact' of rising costs Dream of being own boss can 'blind people' to business difficulties BCC determined to boost success of sole traders and startups Independent retailers help Wrexham become 'top shopping town' Online retail sector continues to boom Business startups can benefit from relocating Birmingham urged to help smaller retailers Walsall developer backs Dragon's Den style competition Trade News Archive June 08 May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 23rd June 2008 Government looks to extend Sunday openings for garden centres A government bill which would allow garden centres in the UK to open for more than six hours on Sundays seems to be passing successfully through parliament. The amendment to the Sunday Trading Act of 1994 was introduced by the Earl of Courtown in May and has already passed through two readings in the House of Lords. It is now set to begin its first committee stage. Under the proposals, local authorities would be able to pass a resolution allowing garden centres to trade up to a maximum of eight hours between 09:00 and 19:00 on Sundays. The government explained that the existing rules place limits on opening hours that are linked to the size of the premesis. However, as "garden centres have large trading areas to accommodate the products they stock" some believe the current rules are unfair. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) revealed recently that it was asking its members to provide information about what the impacts of the changes to opening hours would be. Andrew Maxted, the HTA's director of commercial services, explained: "The government in Westminster appears to recognise that garden centres and their customers have a case to make on this issue and has not turned its face against a change in legislation. "Ministers have however, rightly, asked for more information on, amongst other things, the impact any increase in Sunday trading hours might have on employment and the local economy."   (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd.   Comment on this news story To comment on any story please click on the above link, put the story title in the subject line and please provide your name, trading style ie. retailer or wholesaler and the town where you trade.