HIGH Streets are the beating heart of communities. Small independent shops and cafes give character to towns and bring local people together.

These traditional business centres form the social glue of towns. Barry is no exception, and our High Streets are worth protecting for future generations. I am very pleased that the Barry and District is campaigning to promote and protect them.

There can be no doubt that High Streets across the country have declined over many years as a result of new technology. Motorcars gave rise to out-of-town shopping and made larger supermarkets viable, and now the internet is ushering in a new consumer revolution that is changing how we shop forever.

These structural changes to the retail economy, can and have been survived by many High Streets. Here on High Street in Barry, where my office is based, I can see independent traders who are beating the internet.

They are doing so by offering high-quality service and often the sort of goods that are best bought in person, such as meat at Vic Hopkins butchers, or scented candles in the Smelly Shop. And however impressive digital technology becomes, it can’t replace the local cafe or deli counter.

I was honoured to be asked to open the new Selly’s convenience store on nearby Park Crescent last weekend. This community-focused business, where local owners Gary and Jackie Hughes sell groceries with a smile and a chat has just expanded to larger premises.

It’s a great example of a High Street business that supports the local area and will continue to go on powering trade in Park Crescent.

The challenge for politicians is not to add to the challenges already faced by High Streets, and to remove obstacles to the success of independent traders. The first major issue for High Streets is attracting motorists, so ensuring free parking spaces is vital.

I took part in the campaign to prevent parking charges in Holton Road last year and saw that traders working together can force an anti-business local authority to back down.

In the same way, winter car parking charges on Barry Island need to be overturned to help keep our unique seaside businesses thriving all year-round.

Everybody wanting to see our High Streets thrive should back them where it counts, by using them. As we approach small business Saturday I will be encouraging the whole community to get behind our traders.

Let’s preserve these vital local institutions for the long-term.