Preserving community

Sunday trading has a direct effect on a local community. Not only does it have an impact in terms of noise and congestion, it also hits community activities. For some that might be getting together with others at church meetings, for others it might be playing football in the local league.

Healthy communities are ones with high levels of what sociologists call 'social capital' - lots of volunteering and numerous social networks. This is important for the mental and physical health of individuals in the community, and also leads to lower levels of crime and positive community spirit.

Yet every voluntary organisation, club or society depends upon people having time off at the same time as each other. So with the erosion of Sunday as a different day from all the rest, communities are in danger of increasing fragmentation.

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