The Sage Of Sussex: Adam Trimingham

It's encouraging news for anyone who wants small towns, suburbs and villages to regain their community spirit.

There's been a headlong flight from little local shops ever since the first supermarkets made an appearance in the Fifties and it has continued until now.

This trend has made outfits such as Tesco among the most powerful in the land while in countries like France, corner shops happily co-exist with the superstores.

It's hard to beat the big boys when they offer in-store bakeries, delis and other centres which offer fresh food, expertly served.

A good instance of that is that there are now, I believe, only two fishmongers left in the whole of Hove - although they have such a loyal following they should survive and prosper.

But it can be done. Look at Forfars, a long-established Sussex concern which has invested heavily in a modern bakery, producing bread and cakes people really want.

Take the example of Infinity Foods, a co-op based in Brighton which was early to see the increasing demand for wholesome natural food.

It's not just in food that the locals are hitting back. Sussex Stationers, another home-produced company, has more than managed to hold its own against the biggest booksellers by discounting heavily on titles.

Firms such as Brydens and Dockerills can compete successfully with the do-it-yourself warehouses by offering competitive prices and individual service.

People who cycle would much rather go to small shops such as Webbs in Hove, where people can give proper advice, rather than one of the big chains staffed by callow youngsters who know little about bikes and care even less about them.

I imagine much the same applies to small garages.

Big concerns are usually cheaper but not always. I can buy seeds far cheaper at the little shop run by the Hove Allotments Association than at any garden centre. Flowers are usually cheaper at all stalls in the streets than in Sainsbury's.

It can often pay to patronise the local concerns when it comes to eating and drinking out too.

Chains running food outlets tends to be soulless and rather dispiriting concerns working to a strict formula which sometimes even dictates exactly how many carrots you should have on your plate.

Far better to go to a local Italian restaurant such as Topolino in Hove or Pomodoro E Mozzarella in Worthing than a place where pizzas are mass-produced and taste like plastic.

One of the reasons so many curry houses thrive is that they are individually run.

There's another reason to visit local shops and that's because they are usually the ones giving something back to the community.

Look at those contributing towards Christmas lighting, getting involved in local campaigns or helping The Argus Appeal and they are usually home-grown companies.

At retail chains in the high streets when you make an out-of-the-ordinary request, you are usually told that only head office in London can deal with your concern.

They are only too keen to take our money but, with shoe shops in particular, the boot's usually on the other foot.

Small towns such as Steyning and Shoreham seem to be surviving and prospering these days by organising their own festivals and inviting in farmers' markets.

Areas off the main drag such as Broadwater in Worthing or Fiveways and Seven Dials in Brighton are also experiencing a resurgence.

The big boys can come a cropper when they try to plonk their national patterns on a local community.

It happened in Brighton when Hotshots moved into North Street and failed to take account of local predilections.

Yet when a local firm like Browns or Goodbean knows its market it can make an impact and move successfully into similar cities.

We'll never go back to the old days where there were little shops in every street.

Safeway and Asda will continue to make billions through aggressive pricing and clever marketing.

But it's good to see that the corner shop has at last turned the corner.