Ross business owners are taking positive action to ensure that customers keep walking through their doors.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) launched, in March of this year, their national campaign 'Keep Trade Local.' This plans to remind businesses, customers, local authorities and Government that town centres play a vital role both in the economy and with local employment.

The FSB launched the local 'Keep Trade Local' campaign in Ross on Tuesday, November 4th. Local businesses were keen to learn about the aims of the campaign and how they could support it.

The Mayor of Ross, Councillor John Davies was joined by fellow Town Councillors: Jane Roberts and Harry Bramer, all of whom were keen to know what the FSB's aims were and how local efforts could help the national campaign.

Dozens of petition sheets had been taken to town centre businesses during the day; business owners will collect signatures from their customers, clients and staff and send their completed petition sheets to a central collection point where they will be added to others in a bid to meet the FSB's national target of half million signatures by March 2009!

Councillor Davies said: "At the moment Ross businesses, with a few exceptions, continue to prosper, we have a number of advantages over some Herefordshire towns, not least the M50, however, we can't afford to be complacent and the FSB's efforts will go a long way in raising the various issues faced by local businesses with government ministers. I sincerely hope that local people will sign the FSB petition and that Ross on Wye can make its own contribution towards this laudable campaign".

Angela Smith, the local co-ordinator said: "The aim of the campaign is to highlight the plight of towns: 2000 local shops are closing every year, since 1990 40% of bank branches have closed and around 27 pubs per week are calling last orders for the final time. Businesses in Ross are the life blood of the town; they create employment, training and education, contribute to the economy and meet the consumer needs for local people and visitors. I am delighted with the response from today's launch, it is one in a series being held across the county and proved extremely encouraging."

Sign the petition in local shops or sign online at petitions.pm.gov.uk/?keeptradelocal.