PENARTH Town Council has explained why it is supporting the recently relaunched Shop Penarth scheme.

The revamped scheme was relaunched in September at the food festival at The Kymin by Gwyrddio Penarth Greening in partnership with local businesses, the town council and the Penarth Times.

So far more than 50 businesses have signed up and the town council says it is keen to do what it can to support the scheme.

Town clerk Emma Boylan said Penarth Town Council is keen to encourage the economic development of the town.

“The council is very happy to support the Shop Penarth scheme, which is an exciting example of a project generated and run by the community,” she said.

“Shop Penarth encourages residents and visitors to explore Penarth’s vibrant and expanding offer and it is always pleasing to find ways to provide additional benefits to Penarth’s community and visitors.

“Shop Penarth is an ideal mechanism to bring together traders, helping them to co-ordinate and share ideas and we are happy to help facilitate where we can.

“It also complements our other initiatives such as our events programme and the new Penarth in Bloom scheme.

“You can see some of the project’s festive planters currently decorating many of the businesses around town.

“The scheme helps the public build relationships with local businesses.

“We encourage all readers to engage with this fun project, check out the benefits and join together to build further pride in our town.”

The scheme’s founders are still asking local residents to ‘Shop Penarth’ this festive season, and are offering an exclusive prize to Penarth Times readers for taking part in the Christmas challenge.

If you are trying to buy as much of your Christmas food, gifts and essentials locally then let the team know.

Write about how you get on trying to buy everything you eat and drink this Christmas and presents in Penarth and you could win £25 voucher exchangeable in all Shop Penarth businesses.

Entries should be emailed to gwyrddio.penarth.greening@googlemail.com.

To participate in the scheme, you can buy a Shop Penarth card, which lasts for life, at any of the participating businesses listed on the website offers section for just £2.

View all the latest up-to date offers and discounts from all the Shop Penarth retailers in the offers section of the Shop Penarth website shoppenarth.co.uk.