Businesses and shoppers in Radford have spoken out about how the cost of living continues to affect them. People have agreed that they see “no end” to current financial struggles faced.
Prime Minister, Liz Truss has introduced a new Energy Relief Scheme, saying: “I’m acting immediately so people and businesses are supported over the next two years, with a new Energy Price Guarantee, and tackling the root cause of the issues by boosting domestic energy supply." But the recent turmoil following the government's mini budget has caused more uncertainty.
In Radford, some people believe that despite the financial support the government has announced so far, many people will still struggle. Manager of the Londis store on 134-136 Hartley Road, Rohan Perera explained how he’s noticed people coming into the store and buying less.
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Rohan, 49 said: “Business is not really good but it’s okay. People come in day-to-day, there’s a lot of students.
“If people used to come in for three items, now they come in for one. The cost of living is up and prices are going up.
“Before, items would go up maybe 5 to 10p. Now it’s 50p or £1.”
To assist businesses during the cost of living crisis, the government has set a Supported Wholesale Price – which means businesses will pay a maximum of £211 per MWh for electricity and £75 per MWh for gas, less than half the wholesale prices were expected to be this winter.
Owner of The Computer Shop on 120 Hartley Road, Anthony Turton spoke about how business has been. Anthony, 64 said: “So far, we haven’t seen much change.
Our electricity has doubled but this is a funny time of year for us. In the summer trade drops because the students go back home and normally there’s an increase this time of year when they’re back but we haven’t seen that yet.”
Anthony continued: “I wouldn’t be anywhere near the government's cap. I’d like to see the government get their fingers out more and to not go so crazy on the carbon tax.
“There’s a push on electric cars but they’re full of conventional plastic which comes from oil. Diesel and petrol went up to nearly £2 and now it’s gone down to £1.70 which is still a lot but people are saying ‘well at least it’s gone down’ it’s still a lot, it’s physiological pricing.”
Some Radford said they are also still feeling the impact of the cost of living. Nikita Jordan, 34 is a support worker.
She said: “Businesses have had Covid to go through and now this. Working people were furloughed, some lost their jobs and now this, I see no end to it.
“I work with young adults especially and a lot of them have so much creativity. Where people may have been able to set up businesses before and use their talents, it’ll be 10 times harder for them now.”
Niktia added: “What the government has done so far won’t even cut it.”
Zara Smith, 25 works in a pub. She has had to make many cutbacks due to the cost of living.
She said: “Me and my partner have had to cut back on a lot. I’m glad for households the bills have been capped but it’ll still be expensive.
“Even in the supermarkets that are known for bargains, have upped their prices so for us it’s been a lot of shopping around, we’ve not put our heating on yet and no takeaways.”
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