INDEPENDENT traders across south Essex are calling on people to support Small Business Saturday.

The annual day encourages everyone to support the independent shops in your high street as they face growing competition from out-of-town shopping centres and online shopping, as well as having to contend with issues with parking and high rent.

Traders across south Essex are asking everyone to support the annual event, which this years takes places on December 1.

Alan Dadswell, company director at Toys N Tuck, in Queens Road, Southend, said: “We encourage people to shop locally, where you get a better service and more advice than you would get when shopping online. Small businesses offer a security of knowledge you can’t get online. We have registered to Small Business Saturday, which is important as it encourages people to look at what’s on their door step.”

Martin Hodson, from Rayleigh Chamber of Trade, said: “Smaller businesses take up a majority of the high street and it is important that they run successfully. Unfortunately, the increase in online shopping is having a major effect on high street shopping, as well as the cost of rent rates, and the cost of car parks.

“I would urge everyone to use their local businesses, instead of larger chains. We are seeing less variety of shops in the high street, and it is becoming more of a service area for food and drink, not shopping.”

Lynn, co-owner of Mixtures, a fashion accessories and body piercing jewellery shop in The Victoria Shopping Centre, said: “It will be a great shame to see the end of our high streets because it is dying.

“I think it is a real struggle for every independent business owner nowadays and especially a struggle for anyone starting a new business.”

To support the event, free parking will be offered at the following car parks on December 1 in the Southend area: Ilfracombe Avenue, North Road, Hamlet Court Road, Elm Road, North Street, Ceylon Road and Thorpe Bay Broadway.

Councillor Andrew Moring, cabinet member for infrastructure at Southend Council, said: “Small Business Saturday is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the diverse and wonderful small enterprises that we are lucky enough to have here in Southend.

“We encourage businesses to take part, promoting events and discounts and by offering free all-day parking in seven council run car parks across the Borough on Saturday 1 December. We will then continue to support businesses throughout December with free festive parking, after 4pm on Thursdays and all day Sunday.”

Councillor Andrew Schrader, chairman of the economic development and growth committee at Basildon Council, said: “We are committed to doing all we can to support businesses in the borough, which is why free weekend parking was reinstated in council-owned car parks across the borough from July 2018.

“It is great for shoppers and traders alike and is a simple way of encouraging residents to use local businesses instead of travelling elsewhere.”

He added the council is also supporting businesses with the free Basildon Business Expo on Thursday.