SEPTEMBER TRADE NEWS Norfolk locals petition against Tesco expansion BHF to have first female president Popularity of online retail set to grow Yorkshire traders rally in face of recession Small retailers stand by out-of-vogue cheques JJB Sport bemoans 'worst retail slump ever Planning regulations hit mom-and-pop stores Chester retailers fear 'death of city centre' Confusion abounds over latest Nokia offering Grimsby shopkeepers slam cigarette display ban Local shops in Crowborough brace for Tesco Consumers 'intolerant' of e-tailer glitches Retailers urge EU to scrap footwear tariffs Rise of the mega-mall 'decimates high streets' Manchester SMEs miss out on rate relief NECC moves to help flood damaged retailers New confectionery wholesaler in Liverpool Credit crunch drives Christmas shoppers online Newsagents slam Independent margin change Analysts predict September sales slump Upbeat London retailers buck national trend Call to reform high street parking policies Cheltenham residents back anti-Tesco campaign Retailers ramp up pressure for rent reform Retail spending 'remains in growth territory' Minimum wage increase hurts small retailers House & garden wholesalers escape property slump BRC slams predicted business rate spike MPs back Think Smallest First initiative Expert trumps opportunities in overseas markets Fears Swansea PO closure will harm local shops Norfolk residents celebrate blocked Tesco bid Next sees no improvement in consumer spending East Sussex town launches own currency Wet August dampens retails sales Wholesaler, Makro, fined over shopper's injuries Blackpool Council warns illegal street traders High street braces for 'cautious Christmas' Rate hold accepted but not welcomed Loyalty card revealed for retailers Brighton's shopping centre helps retailers Blaming the internet for slumping high street sales 'is wrong' Birmingham retailers work together to improve city centre Retailers' protests stop pedestrianisation plan Wholesale businesses report slowing sales Out-of-county traders blamed for selling fakes Norwich wholesaler hit by criminal gang Importer loses House of Lords case Photographs highlight plight of small retailers Essex residents warned about counterfeit goods New high street plan approved in Chelmsford Trade News Archive September 08 August 08 July 08 June 08 May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 19th September 2008 NECC moves to help flood damaged retailers The North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC) is arranging support and practical advice for victims of the flash floods which devastated Morpeth. The River Wansbeck burst its banks earlier this month, swamping the Northumberland town with water and forcing 1,000 residents into temporary accommodation. While the waters have now receded, the NECC says that several small businesses in the area are struggling to cope and have little understanding of how to access emergency funding. Working together with Business Link and the Economic Recovery Team at Castle Morpeth Borough Council, some 3,000 of its member companies are offering support ranging from free meeting spaces to van use and goods storage. NECC head of member relations Rachel Spence vowed that no effort would be spared in easing the burden placed on local retailers and businesses as a consequence of the floods. "We want to do all we can to help firms affected by flooding to get them back on their feet as soon as possible and to minimise the impact of this disaster," she asserted. "The response from NECC members to this call for help has been phenomenal. It is incredible to see the business community rally round to help those affected." (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd. Comment on this news story