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9 Jul 2025

A recent BBC Breakfast segment has sparked backlash from the cycling community over its portrayal of e-bikes, with critics accusing the broadcaster of conflating legal e-bikes with illegal,...

8 Jul 2025

More than 30 locations across Scotland have seen a major rise in the number of people cycling, according to newly released data.

7 Jul 2025

Sixteen illegally upgraded e-bikes capable of speeds up to 40mph have been seized and disposed of in a joint enforcement operation in Birmingham city centre.

7 Jul 2025

Bristol-based Cytech training provider and ACT member Life Cycle has launched its award-winning Bikes Beyond Bars programme at HMP Bullingdon, expanding a project that has already impacted lives...

4 Jul 2025

New data from Strava reveals a major surge in cycling across the UK, with Gen Z and Millennials leading the charge.

3 Jul 2025

Shimano has launched an urgent investigation into what it describes as a “critical” shortage of skilled bike mechanics across Europe, warning that the situation threatens to...

2 Jul 2025

MPs have called on Amazon and eBay to tighten controls after e-bikes and chargers flagged as serious fire risks were found for sale on their platforms.

25 Jun 2025

The E-Bike Positive campaign has seen major success in the first half of 2025, with its message reaching nearly 8 million people across the UK through high-profile media coverage and growing...

20 Jun 2025

The House of Commons Business and Trade Committee has asked the ACT, and its parent company Bira, to help them reach out to small business retailers across the country, for their quick input on...

20 Jun 2025

Activate Cycle Academy has reopened its Cytech training facility in Darlington, offering a full range of courses from Home Mechanic up to Cytech Technical Three.
 

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Write to your MP on Sunday trading

Posted on in Business News , Cycles News

The Government is currently considering relaxing the Sunday Trading regulations. This is not a popular measure with consumers, shopworkers, or retailers.

Key Stats

  • 58% of consumers support the existing Sunday Trading regulations, compared to 21% who do not support the regulations (Populus, May 2020)
  • 91% of shopworkers in large stores do not want longer trading hours on Sundays (USDAW, September 2015)
  • Over the course of a year, displacement could cost the convenience sector up to £69m in lost profits and 6,770 jobs. (Oxford Economics/ACS - 2015)

Get Involved

The campaign to prevent the relaxed Sunday Trading regulations was initiated by Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC) member ACS. The IRC is in support of the campaign and urges small businesses and high street retailers to get involved where possible by sending a letter or email to your local MP; a template letter has been drafted up that all retail workers can use that is available here.

You can also show your support for the Keep Sunday Special campaign on Twitter by adding a 'Twibbon' to your profile picture here.

ACS chief executive James Lowman said: "The majority of the public are in favour of the existing Sunday Trading regulations, which strike the right balance between the needs of shopworkers, consumers, high streets, small shops and supermarkets. Changing the current laws would serve only to displace trade from the local shops that have been keeping communities going during this pandemic. If anything, local shops and other retailers have been reducing the number of opening hours in their business to keep their staff safe whilst restocking and cleaning stores, and we expect non-essential retailers to operate with limited hours when they re-open later this month."

"There are many measures that have been recommended through high street reviews and task forces in recent years that could support the recovery of high street businesses, but at no point has a change to Sunday Trading regulations been considered and with good reason. To upset the balance that has been struck on opening hours on Sundays would put small shops at risk, with increased costs but no guaranteed benefits for their larger counterparts."

 

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