There are few things more indicative of Britain’s challenges than our struggling high streets.

Listen to this article

And so while today’s news that the British Heart Foundation will close around 150 of its shops over the next two years is depressing, it is also entirely predictable. As the charity’s Chief Executive, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, acknowledges, the retail sector is currently facing “an exceptionally challenging trading environment”.

Much of this is down to longer-term trends - in particular the rise of online shopping - but it’s been made worse by anti-business government policy. It’s time for a concerted effort to save our high streets.

I grew up in a North Somerset commuter town called Nailsea, about 8 miles southwest of Bristol. We were blessed with a quintessential great British high street. Along a single stretch of a few hundred yards, you could buy just about everything you’d ever need. There was the pet store, the jewellers, a beauty salon, hairdressers for........

© LBC