“A healthy local economy should reflect the vision and passion of the local community” (source: New Economics Foundation Report ‘Ghost Town Britain’).

Welcome to the SPAR Community Census, a place where you can have a voice and express your views on the changes in your community. This includes the changing shape of your local high street and the subsequent impact on your local economy, plus all those things you cherish such as community spirit, friendly retailers and meeting places for neighbours and friends.

With over 2,800 outlets, local SPAR stores serve over 74% of the UK population. We are committed to ensuring that every community has the services that they want and need. However, there have been significant changes to the retail landscape in the past five years that have had knock-on effects such as unemployment, the disappearance of local shops and businesses and a loss of community spirit. Much of this has been as a direct result of supermarkets and out of town retail developers.

Our customers have told us their concerns about the erosion of their communities, which is why since 1999 we have been regularly canvassing the views of thousands of consumers to monitor the general public’s views on the decline of the local high street. In 2002 the local shop was voted the number one essential part of the community by 96% of the UK population, putting it way ahead of the pub, school and Post Office. In addition, 98% of the population felt they would be inconvenienced if their local shop disappeared, and 57% said they would be willing to fight back against any threat to its survival. 

In 2000 the results from this report were used in an enquiry from The Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee on the ‘Environmental Impact of Supermarket Competition’. Despite this, the threat to local shops and businesses still continues. Now is the time to fight back and have your say. Please spend five minutes completing the simple questionnaire on this site to make your opinion count…