Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has today called on residents to support struggling local Businesses.
Fletchers Stationary, Art & Print, located on on Keighley High Street, posted a plea for support on Facebook last week, with owner Kyle Riley warning that his business was “on the brink of closure” due to a lack of footfall over the Christmas period.
The online post was met by a wave of support from local residents, with Mr Riley writing that he was “blown away by the kind words from customers”, and that “there are some incredible people in Keighley”.
In a visit by Robbie Moore MP, Mr Riley stressed that more work still needs to be done to help struggling local businesses like his. Following the visit, Robbie Moore MP met with Business Minister Paul Scully to raise local retailer’s concerns directly with the Government, and to ask for further support to make sure Keighley’s High Streets thrive.
Robbie Moore MP said: “We have many brilliant independent local businesses right across Keighley, and it is deeply concerning to hear of the struggles some are facing at the moment. It is so important that we all support them as much as possible and shop local. Today, I met with Kyle, the owner of Fletchers to hear about the difficulties they are having first hand. Fletchers is well known to many, having been a long standing Keighley stationary and art retailer for many years, but having had another tough Christmas period, they need more footfall. High Street retailers, particularly small and medium sized businesses, are the backbone of Keighley’s economy. The pandemic has caused innumerable problems for these places, so we must give them our full support by shopping and buying local.
