At this time of year, lots of us are in and out of the shops, picking up last minute Christmas presents. And yet, many people I talk to are worried about the future of our high streets.
Just last week, Mary Portas (better known as TV’s Mary Queen of Shops) issued a major report into what’s happening to our local shops – and what should be done about it. You can read the report here.
The report has certainly got some grim news in it. Nearly one in six shops in our high streets and town centres are standing empty, as more and more people spend their money elsewhere. Over the years, out of town shopping centres, the rise of the supermarkets, and the internet have all taken their toll.
The report also has lots of ideas about how to turn things around: easier parking, reduced business rates for new local businesses, and putting pressure on landlords not to leave shops empty.
Of course, we can’t turn back the clock. Our high streets are never going to look like they did in the 1950s. But that doesn’t mean we can’t refresh and reinvent them. That is what we need to do, if we are going to keep them at the heart of our communities.
I’ve put together a quick survey, to find out what you think the future holds for our local shops. Can they be saved, or have the supermarkets and the internet finished them off?
I hope you’ll let me know your views by clicking here.
I hope you enjoy shopping on our local High Streets before Christmas and I hope you and your family have a Happy Christmas and a great New Year.
