THE Press’s campaign to urge people to support their local shops has won a big boost from York Green Party.

The party has launched a directory of local shops on the internet, allowing Google users to find local and independent retailers and services easily.

Fishergate Green councillor Dave Taylor said that the online directory listed such businesses in York’s Heslington, Fulford and Fishergate wards.

“It builds on a booklet, called ‘Local Shops for Local People’, that the Green Party produced in 2006, which was distributed to every household in the areas covered,” he said. “We wholly support The Press’s campaign to promote local shops. Our aim in October 2006 was to make sure people knew what they could get from independent and local shops. The chain shops have far higher advertising budgets, and we wanted to do our bit to help the profile of independents.

“One of the things that is absolutely vital in this day and age is to have your business listed in Google. More people now use Google searches to find local businesses than the Yellow Pages. So we decided to transfer our old paper-based directory into an online version.”

He said he hoped to extend the initiative to cover the whole of York eventually.

The online Local Shops For Local People map is available at http://tinyurl.com/lsflp

The Press launched “Support Your Local Shop” posters last weekend as part of its York Means Business campaign, which aims to promote and support local businesses as they battle to survive the global recession.

Shops from across York, North and East Yorkshire have since been contacting the newspaper to ask for copies.

Any other retailers wanting one should email mike.laycock@thepress.co.uk