Businesses in Ipswich have said they agree with the town's MP Jack Abbott, who backed new rules that give councils more powers to stop "unwanted businesses".
Staff at vape shops and phone shops in Ipswich said that "you would stop a petrol shop from selling dodgy petrol" as they backed Mr Abbott's support for the new Pride in Place programme.
In September, Mr Abbott welcomed the start of the Pride in Place scheme, which has empowered local councils to block what is described as "unwanted businesses", including phone shops and vape stores.
At the time he said: "My priority as Ipswich’s MP is to restore pride and create a town centre that is safe, welcoming, and thriving for everyone."
The manager of Vape Shop Outlet in Westgate Street said that he agreed with the MP and that illegitimate businesses were giving vape shops a bad name.
He said: "We have been here for 12 years and the company has around 35 stores so clearly we are trusted and a wanted business.
"But there are businesses that have been caught selling vapes to children and they are unwanted, not trusted and give other more established and trusted shops a bad name.
"So we would actually be in favour of not having businesses like that, you would stop a petrol station from selling dodgy petrol and it's the same sort of thing."
Ghulam Mujtaba, the manager of iRepair/iVape, said that he had been in the industry for many years and that the number of shops is only increasing despite costs rising.
He said: "When I started in this business there was only one or two shops like us but there around 15 now.
"Our costs are going up, business rates, national insurance, rent and council tax but more and more businesses are being given permission to open".
Earlier this week, it was revealed that a Grade II-listed building in Tavern Street is set to be Ipswich's newest vape shop.
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