Liberal Democrats launch plans to revitalise Britain's high streets

10.05.00am GMT Sat 13th Feb 2010

Woolworths, like this branch in New George Street, was one of the victims of the credit crunch and recession

Liberal Democrats in Plymouth have this week set out plans to revitalise Britain's high streets, protect the future of the Post Office, and help small businesses establish and grow in a fairer marketplace.

The document includes proposals to:

• Encourage the development of a PostBank and free the Post Office from the Royal Mail to enable it to develop new business

• Introduce a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail developments to establish a fairer balance between local independent stores and large supermarkets

• Establish a system of Local Enterprise Funds and regional stock exchanges to ensure small businesses get access to cost effective equity that meets their needs

The announcement comes as research shows one in eight shops is now empty after the recession. The report, published by the Local Data Company (LDC), says that vacancies shot up by 24% in the second half of 2009.

According to LDC, shops are more likely to be vacant in Plymouth than in Paignton, Torquay, Honiton, Taunton, Bideford, Barnstaple, Penzance, Newquay, Truro, and Falmouth.

Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Moor View, Stuart Bonar, said:

"Even before the the recession and credit crunch hit, shops had already begun to disappear from many of Plymouth's streets. In many areas of the Moor View constituency, in the north of the city, there are very few shops at all.

"The planning system has seen supermarket giants squeeze the life out of many of our towns and cities, and now almost every high street in Britain is an identical collection of chain stores and coffee shops.

"We need thriving high streets in Plymouth, ones with real character that allow local businesses to survive and grow.

"We have been too dependent for too long on the banks in the City of London. Neither Labour nor the Conservatives have challenged that. The Liberal Democrats understand that it will be small businesses that are key to building a healthy and balanced economy."

Commenting, Lib Dem party leader Nick Clegg MP said:

"Thriving high streets are at the heart of local communities.

"But it has been our high streets that have borne the brunt of this recession, with boarded up shops scarring towns and villages across Britain.

"I believe that people value the wide range of goods and services available locally and want to see their high streets thrive and prosper."