GOVERNMENT plans to devolve Sunday trading powers will cost almost 3,270 jobs, small retailers said yesterday.

The Tories’ blueprint will see decision-making on big stores’ Sunday opening hours handed to local councils.

But the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said any extension of Sunday opening for big stores would also cost small high street shops more than £870 million, because business would be transferred to supermarkets and out-of-town shopping centres.

ACS is lobbying MPs this week prior to the legislation going before Parliament.

Association chief executive James Lowman said: “The evidence shows that removing Sunday trading rules will serve only to displace trade from small shops to large shops and will result in job losses, investment being cancelled and some stores having to close.

“If this government is committed to helping small businesses, it must abandon its plans to change the law on Sunday trading.

“We also know that councils will be watching neighbouring local authorities’ decisions on Sunday trading and that there will be a domino effect as Sunday opening rules are liberalised town by town.

“Let’s be absolutely clear, these devolution plans will lead to widespread 24/7 opening, with out-of-town retail parks the big winners and small high street shops the losers.”

The proposal is also opposed by shopworkers’ union Usdaw, which is backing the nationwide Keep Sunday Special campaign.