Claire Archibald MS visits Fed members in Tenby, West Wales

(Pictured above, left-right: Fiona Malone, Vince Malone and Claire Archibald MS).

Members of the Federation of Independent Retailers, Vince and Fiona Malone, welcomed Senedd Member Claire Archibald to their Tenby Store to show the vital role their shop and post office plays in their West Wales Community.

After a career in healthcare, Ms Archibald was elected to the Senedd in May this year, elected to the Ceredigion Penfro constituency as a Reform candidate.

The meeting highlighted the social value of shops and post offices, with particular emphasis on the 650 post offices across Wales. Mr and Mrs Malone, of Morrisons Daily – Tenby Stores and Post Office, emphasised the particularly high cost of business – through a mix of high business rate costs and high commercial costs and energy bills – and how they make it increasingly difficult to sustain small retail businesses, despite their social value.

Mr and Mrs Malone also highlighted the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme for recycling bottles and cans when it goes live in October 2027 and the work the Fed is undertaking to help small shops prepare. They also shared concerns about potential complexities in Wales linked to bringing glass into the scheme, which is scheduled to fully take effect after a longer four-year transition period for glass until October 2031.

The Fed members also raised their concerns about retail crime and rogue trade on the High Street and reiterated the particular priority the Fed places on enhancing resources for Neighbourhood Policing and Local Authority trading standards.

Claire Archibald MS said: “It was an extremely positive meeting and I look forward to working with Vince and Fiona in the future. I hope to meet with them again in the Senedd at some point and will also try and stop by the shop when I am in Tenby in the future!”

Vince and Fiona Malone added:“ We would like to thank Claire for visiting us and for engaging openly on the issues affecting our business and community. The ball is now in the hands of the Senedd to ensure that these concerns are acted upon.”