MADAM, YOU may have seen that I have recently launched a countywide campaign to Save Our Small Shops. I wanted to ask for a moment of your time to help support these vital local institutions. Like Post Offices and local schools, small shops are vital to our community. But today they are an endangered species. Instead of their traditional diversity, charm,

local character and personal service, we have boarded-up shop fronts, graffiti, and less and less appeal for tourists. Today Hereford City has 51 empty shops, our county towns are feeling the strain, and more and more shops are closing in our villages. We are asking local people to pick your own favourite small shop, and to say what makes it so special. The winning shops will be celebrated at a reception to which everyone involved will be invited, so that they can pass on their good wishes and support to the winners in person. The overall deadline is April 30th, 2009. Please take a moment now to send me your small shop nominations. And please do pass on this information to other friends so they can choose their favourites as

well. It's vitally important to keep moving forward positively during this tough economic recession. With luck this new campaign will be one way to generate more of the publicity, recognition and local pride that our small shops deserve.

Jesse Norman