Cambridgeshire florist makes plea for businesses 'barely hanging on'
She's calling for more support from the next government
A business owner in Cambridgeshire is telling us she wants political parties to offer more support for struggling firms.
It's one month until voters in the county go to the polls for this year's general election.
It comes as a multi-million pound regeneration of March town centre continues, with works due to be completed in October.
"We're really struggling"
Linda Hunns runs White September florists in the town:
"We're really struggling; we've had Covid, the cost of living crisis, electric and gas bills going up that are now starting to come down, but some of those are barely hanging on," she said.
"The small businesses in Fenland, we get a small business rate rebate and if that's taken away, I think that will finish some of us off and we're running out of independents."
Calls to revive town
Paving and carriageway work are some of what's being undertaken by Octavius this month.
But Linda feels the redevelopment must make the town more attractive for people to visit.
"What is there to come for at the moment? We've lost so many shops, there's nothing much left in March.
"We need some new, independent traders with exciting shops that make it interesting to come.
"I think if we can encourage the locals to shop in March, that can make us thrive."
Fenland Council has previously said improvements such as easing congestion will be made to the town centre following the works.
Voters have until the end of Tuesday, 18th June to register to vote in the general election on 4th July.