CEREDIGION council has remained tight-lipped over what it would do if UK Government plans to hand over power to loosen Sunday trading hours for larger stores are pushed through.

The proposals, first outlined by Chancellor George Osborne in his budget statement, face a challenge after the SNP indicated it would oppose them along with Labour MPs and around 20 Tory rebels amid fears the plans could drive down workers’ wages.

The proposals would allow local councils to have the power to loosen opening hours for stores in zones or county-wide.

Ceredigion Council said the authority had not yet formulated a position on the proposals, and would not say whether it would welcome having the powers to extend opening hours or whether it would do so if plans are pushed through.

“Until a decision is made to delegate decision making powers to local authorities in relation to the proposals, the council is not in a position to comment,” a Ceredigion Council spokesman said.

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