There are many advantages of shopping locally. These include environmental, financial and community.

Some towns leave people with little choice of where to shop. It's a huge loss to communities if their local shops close down - but big supermarkets are getting so dominant that smaller shops find it hard to compete.

Davenport is extremely fortunate in still having a large number of quality shops, ranging from well-known national brands to independent specialist shops. It's a testament to the quality of these businesses that there are very few empty shops on Bramhall Lane.

Local business people make an enormous and positive contribution to the quality of life in our community. The best places to bring your friends from out of town are your local restaurants and local businesses. So develop the shop local mindset spirit and protect it, especially in these tough economic times.

Local shops boost the local economy, provide genuine choice and are a good environmental option.

The most important thing you can do is to buy more from your local shops - choosing local products wherever possible.

How shopping local benefits communities

Shopping locally keeps money circulating in the local area so they support other local businesses - money spent in locally-owned businesses have up to three times the impact on the community as those spent at corporate chains. There is a strong multiplier effect within the community for every pound spent locally, whether it is for retail goods or services. Every pound that a community member spends outside the community diminishes the economic health of the community.

With increasing job-loss and a shrinking labour market, supporting local businesses by shopping locally helps fund and maintain jobs in the area preventing outsourcing and the outflow of economic wealth. Additionally, locally owned businesses may often be motivated to give workers better wages and benefits. Shop workers who live near their place of work are more likely to be friendlier and more helpful, as the shop is an asset to their community also.

Local businesses can offer a more refined expertise and base of knowledge about their product, especially if it is also locally-made. Local groceries specialize in knowing how and where their foods were made and how to cook and eat them - knowledge that benefits the consumer. Local shops offer a much more personal service than big supermarkets, shop staff get to know their regular customers and may anticipate their needs.

Small local businesses can help to create a close knit, cohesive community, which in turn helps to make it a better place, and encourage people to stay in their local area more often.

Shopping locally keeps non-chain shops flourishing, thereby increasing the diversity of our communities. It helps them retain their uniqueness and authenticity and encourages local innovation and creativity. (Who wants to live in clone towns?)

Thriving local shops reduce fuel requirements and eliminate the monopoly and high pricing of supermarkets. The less distance consumer products have traveled the greater the benefits are to the environment due to the reduction and/or elimination of storage and transportation costs. In the case of food the less distance traveled from farm to plate, the fresher it is and the greater the benefits are to the environment. It’s closer so you get back home faster. Your ice cream doesn’t have to get melted or soggy. No one really likes soggy ice cream!

Having local amenities such as quality shops and services on your doorstep can add value to your house! When you come to sell your house, it's a great selling point and ticks another box!

It’s fun running into people you know who frequent the same local shops that you do, and catch up with people who live nearby. You might well get talking to that neighbour who lives over the road that you've never had chance to talk to due to your hectic work lives.

Rather than jump in the car and head to  a shopping centre, why not have a walk down to the local shops on Bramhall Lane. As well as all the environmental and economic advantages, the walk will do you good!

Ok, so it's not often that going to your local is positively encouraged, but supporting your local independent public house, often the focal point of a community, is a much greener option than visiting chain bars or big brewery pubs. The Campaign for Real Ale campaigns for local pubs and brewers of local ales to stay open, reporting that 56 independent pubs are being forced to shut down a month.