Date: 04/12/2008
This Christmas, High Peak Borough Council is calling on local residents and businesses to use their spending power to support local shops to help keep a range of great independent stores and jobs in our towns and villages.
If you have not explored your own High Street or visited neighbouring towns in the High Peak lately, you could be in for a big surprise - hand made chocolates, designer clothes and shoes, high quality unique and branded toys, bikes, books, soft furnishings, jewellery and unique hand crafted gifts are all available in our town centres.
High Peak also has some of the best independent food shops in the country. Our butchers provide locally sourced meat and poultry and have won national recognition for their quiches, pies, sausages and cooked meat products. Local specialities such as potato cakes, oatcakes and Christmas cakes are available from bakers and delicatessens.
Farmers markets are being held at the United Reform Church Whaley Bridge on Saturday 13 December and at Pavilion Gardens, Buxton on Monday 22 December. Farmers markets are open from 10 am to 3 pm and there is no admission fee.
Christmas can be an expensive time for those on a budget - so why not visit our traditional markets or Glossop indoor market where, not only is there a good range of quality items, but plenty of bargains - from Christmas cards through to woollens, gifts and household necessities.
Tony Kemp, Executive Councillor for Regeneration, said: "We know that many residents are tightening their belts this year and many people are feeling the pinch, but what also matters is not just how much you spend, but where you spend it.
"Spending money in our local towns and villages keeps money circulating in the High Peak. The local shops create jobs for people, who - in turn - spend in our local community as well. High Peak shops often stock a higher percentage of locally sourced products; so shopping locally also supports these jobs and helps reduce our global footprint. Evidence shows that for every £10 spent in an independent shop, £25 is generated for the local economy - compared to £14 spent in multinationals."
High Peak residents can use their car-parking permits to get free parking all day on Sundays in Buxton, New Mills and Glossop and before 10 am and after 4 pm everyday (excluding Spring Gardens car park, Buxton). Free car parking is available in Chapel-en-le-Frith and Whaley Bridge.