When is a plastic bag not just any old plastic bag? The answer apparently is when its purpose is to protect what’s inside rather than simply to carry stuff home.

When is a plastic bag not just any old plastic bag? The answer apparently is when its purpose is to protect what’s inside rather than simply to carry stuff home.

That at least is the eccentric interpretation of the carrier bag levy in Wales, meaning online grocer Ocado may be exempt while other grocers are not, prompting fury from Sainsbury’s in particular.

The point is not which interpretation is right or wrong, but that the levy is another example of complicated red tape in which retailers are being entangled – the last thing they need in punishing trading conditions.

Just how harsh life on the high street is was made clear in BRC footfall data this week, which showed wide regional differences. While shopper traffic held steady in London and the Southeast, it fell sharply in places such as Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Ironically, as in Wales, the devolved administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland are at the forefront of imposing extra burdens on retailers. The politicians in Belfast and Edinburgh propose a levy on big store groups in yet another example of retailers unfairly bearing the burden of extra costs and bureaucracy.

Bureaucracy is also holding back retail potential elsewhere, including London. Despite soothing noises from politicians, there has been no progress on making it easier for high-spending Chinese tourists to visit the UK.

Next week Chancellor George Osborne can make life a little easier on the consumer, and in turn retailers, when he delivers his Autumn Statement. Let’s hope he shows some understanding that a successful retail industry can help deliver the growth the country so desperately needs.

Opportunity knocks

Adversity for some means an opening for others. Despite the dire trading environment, new entrants continue to enliven the retail scene.

As we reveal this week, US giant Foot Locker is to launch its The Locker Room fascia here. The Locker Room’s arrival comes as the bosses of embattled JJB Sportsattempt a turnaround and shows that retailers still see opportunity in a market dominated by Sports Direct.

In such a cold retail climate, the willingness of new entrants to touch down is a reminder that there remains spend to be fought over and better prospects for the future.