Andy Burnham, our new PM, has brought a welcome focus on high streets.

Listen to this article

The Prime Minister has quite rightly highlighted the issues of empty units, struggling businesses and a proliferation of vape shops and gambling halls. I would also add barbers and sweet shops to the list of businesses dominating too many high streets in the UK.

I welcome his intention to change the way our high streets look by encouraging diversity, quality, and social impact. Listening to what the community wants is very important. However, closing down vape shops and gambling halls will lead to more empty units if we do not encourage new and existing retailers to invest in the high street.

The reason vape shops and gambling halls have grown is due to demand, high margins, and minimal employment costs. There is also growing evidence that too many of these businesses are ‘fronts’ for organised criminal activities, so the normal rules of doing business do not apply.

We all want to see a more diverse and vibrant high street. To achieve that, we need to encourage investment from good, legitimate indie retailers. We need to remove those barriers that are making high street retailing so challenging. Reducing the cost of doing business........

© LBC