Cautious welcome in Shropshire for plan to revive high streets

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire is tomorrow due to present his blueprint for the future of town and city centres.

And schemes such as the Orbit project in Wellington, where volunteers are converting a disused bank into a cinema and arts centre, will form the cornerstone of the plans.

But while the plans have received a cautious welcome, businesses and community organisations have said they are no substitute for a varied range of shops.

Fiona Hunter, of the Orbit project, said: "I can see opportunities for community ventures, and this is very important.

"But if you want to regenerate the high street, you have got to have what most people think of as the high street.

"That means you have got to have interesting shops, you don't have to have that many chains.

"You need shops with the things that you can't normally get in the big chains."

Mrs Hunter said in Wellington priority should also be given to supporting market traders, who were crucial to life in the town.

Dinah Anderson, who keeps Bookshrop in Whitchurch, also said bringing vacant units into short-term use could be a positive move.

But she said the long-term aim had to be to fill them with businesses.

"If it increases footfall by bringing people into town, why not?," she said.

"If you can get people into town in the first place, you have got a chance of getting them into your shop.

"But in the long term you want more shops."

But Mrs Anderson said while such measures could make a difference in small market towns with a community feel, they probably would not work in larger towns.

She said rates relief available to small shops had been a real boost.

Mrs Anderson added that her business had to adapt in the wake of online competition.

"A lot of the books you can get online, so we have had to change what we offer," she said.

"It used to be just books, but now we have to offer other things as well."

The government plan, called Open Doors, follows on from Chancellor Philip Hammond's announcement of £675 million being made available to support the high street.

Experts

Under the scheme, teams of experts will be drafted in to work with landlords of empty properties.

They will work with community groups offering important services, particularly those aimed at older and younger people.

The teams will strike temporary deals for short-term leases to bring people back into town.

The Government hopes this will also tackle other problems affecting town centres.

Mr Brokenshire said: "Empty shops and decreasing footfall on the high street contribute to social problems such as crime, unemployment and loneliness, while successful high streets can make communities stronger."

He said measures announced in last week's Budget would help town centres adapt to the changing retail climate.

"I’m determined that our communities and our high streets will not be left behind," he said.

"Small retailers will see their business rates bills cut by a third, saving them up to £900 million over two years.

“These actions will help create a more level playing field for all retailers.”

National figures show that more than 100,000 jobs have been lost in town centres over the past three years, as internet shopping has driven major retailers to the wall.

Last year alone the high street lost 1,800 shops, with House of Fraser – which is to close its Shrewsbury branch – being hit hard.

Chamber boss backs proposals

A Shropshire business leader has welcomed the rescue plan which could see struggling high streets be turned into modern community hubs.

Richard Sheehan, chief executive of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said he hoped the move will attract people back to the high street and spark a revival for traders.

“Empty shops don’t help anyone,” Mr Sheehan said. “If we can get into a position to create more of a ‘destination’ in the high street then that can only be a positive thing.

“Increasing footfall in this way will act as spin-off for other businesses.

“I think market towns are getting better at creating destinations and these plans will only help achieve that.

“The problems on the high street have been well documented – the larger players in particularly have suffered.

“Successful businesses need to be innovative, especially with their internet activity, and they have to have an e-commerce platform to ensure they are sustainable and don’t get left behind.”

The past 12 months have not been kind to high street retailers. House of Fraser sailed close to the wind before being rescued by Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley – although the Shrewsbury branch is to close nonetheless – while Debenhams has also announced plans to cut back its store estate. Toys R Us and Maplin have disappeared completely as punters’ shopping habits change.

“The high street is undergoing an evolution and there will be a marked change in the future,” Mr Sheehan added. “High streets will no longer just be made up of retail units.

“It will be a challenge to fill bigger units with one customer so I think sites with multiple businesses will be the way to go.”