Politicians are warning that the dominance of the big retailers will force smaller independent traders off the high street by 2015.

The report, which has been compiled by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Small Shops, claims that smaller retailers are being squeezed out by larger traders and supermarkets and are “unlikely to survive” the continued growth of their rivals.

It predicts dire social, economic and environmental consequences for local communities.

“The erosion of small shops is viewed as the erosion of the social glue that binds communities together,” said its report.

In some ways, there is nothing new in all this. It has long been a complaint that the multiples and big players have driven out the independents, but the increasing focus on the convenience store sector, an area that, up until now, has continued to thrive despite supermarket superiority, has brought the issue back on the agenda.

While the OFT and competition authorities bury their heads in the sand, more and more businesses will disappear, leading to less and less choice on the high street.

Of course, in the battle to woo the consumer in the convenience sector, fresh produce will play a key role, but while that might be good news in the short term, the long-term loss of diversity in the sector can only spell bad news for all.