York Close The Door campaign (From York Press)

York Close The Door campaign

2:50pm Wednesday 19th November 2008

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WHERE’S Larry Grayson when you need him? The comic legend would have been in his element in York this week as a campaign urging shops and other businesses to “shut that door” hit town.

The campaign, launched in Cambridge three years ago, aims to encourage shops and other businesses to close their doors in cold weather to reduce heating bills, cut waste – and help the environment.

Estimates suggest UK shops waste about £300 million a year simply by keeping their doors open.

Sian Reid, one of the directors of the national Close The Door campaign, said: “We reckon about 20 to 25 per cent of a particular shop’s expenditure on energy is wasted through the door.

“We have all these concerns about climate change, and yet shops are wasting energy through front doors. You’d never let that happen at home.”

Sian and fellow Close The Door director Jeannie Dawkins were pounding the streets of York this week, urging local shops to sign up to the campaign, and handing out information packs and “Please Come In” signs for shop doors.

The campaign has received cross-party support in York.

Lib Dem council leader Andrew Waller said the authority would be throwing its weight behind the campaign. “I can see this as being one way of helping to achieve our objective of cutting the city’s carbon footprint,” he said.

Ruth Potter, deputy leader of the Labour group on the council, has been out pounding the streets herself to drum up support for the campaign. “York has a number of small, independent shops who could lead the way and show the larger retailers how to save,” she said.

Dave Taylor of the York Green Party added: “It’s high time that retailers considered the amount of energy that they are wasting by leaving their shop doors open. It’s a no-brainer, for commercial reasons as well as environmental ones.”

But what about the shops themselves?

Assistants at a number of shops in Stonegate admitted they were often left shivering and wrapped up in warm clothing because of doors being left open.

Nadine Stotten, manager of the Frances Hilary toy shop, said she would be happy to pass campaign information on to the shop’s owner.

“Though I feel when the door is shut it is a bit of a barrier to people,” she said.

Stephen Johns, owner of the Sony centre in Micklegate, another store targeted by campaigners, said his shop always kept its doors closed anyway. But he could afford to, he said – because his was a “destination store” that people made a special journey to visit.

Shopowners who relied on passing trade were in a more difficult position. “They have got to encourage people inside.”

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