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| Mary Portas to unveil report into high street revival | Mary Portas to unveil report into high street revival |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Retail expert Mary Portas is set to warn that many of the UK's high streets may be lost unless shops and councils work together to regenerate them. | Retail expert Mary Portas is set to warn that many of the UK's high streets may be lost unless shops and councils work together to regenerate them. |
| Her report for government on the decline of town centres says years of neglect and the growth of online shopping have left many areas "dying". | Her report for government on the decline of town centres says years of neglect and the growth of online shopping have left many areas "dying". |
| She is expected to suggest cutting regulations for high street traders and plans for a national market day. | She is expected to suggest cutting regulations for high street traders and plans for a national market day. |
| But council leaders have criticised Ms Portas for not consulting them. | But council leaders have criticised Ms Portas for not consulting them. |
| Her report is expected to recommend relaxing licensing rules for market stalls to make it easier for people to set up stands. | Her report is expected to recommend relaxing licensing rules for market stalls to make it easier for people to set up stands. |
| Some regulations could be axed for high street traders, including restrictions on night-time deliveries put in place to minimise noise. | Some regulations could be axed for high street traders, including restrictions on night-time deliveries put in place to minimise noise. |
| A national market day aimed at promoting indoor or outdoor markets and helping drive traffic towards shops is another expected idea. | |
| But Ms Portas is thought to have decided against a moratorium on out-of-town shopping developments - an idea championed by some business groups. | But Ms Portas is thought to have decided against a moratorium on out-of-town shopping developments - an idea championed by some business groups. |
| She said: "With town centre vacancy rates doubling over the last two years the need to take action to save our high streets has never been starker." | She said: "With town centre vacancy rates doubling over the last two years the need to take action to save our high streets has never been starker." |
| 'Sensible ideas' | 'Sensible ideas' |
| Richard Dodd, from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said there were a "good number of sensible ideas" in the report. | Richard Dodd, from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said there were a "good number of sensible ideas" in the report. |
| He said: "Clearly a national market day is never going to be the sole solution but alongside a range of other measures it could make a useful contribution to generate interest and stimulate shop numbers, adding to the originality and distinctiveness of particular town centres." | He said: "Clearly a national market day is never going to be the sole solution but alongside a range of other measures it could make a useful contribution to generate interest and stimulate shop numbers, adding to the originality and distinctiveness of particular town centres." |
| But the Local Government Association (LGA) said it was concerned that the local expertise of councils will get overlooked. | But the Local Government Association (LGA) said it was concerned that the local expertise of councils will get overlooked. |
| Peter Box, chairman of its economy and transport committee, said: "Councils play a crucial role in growing local economies and improving high streets and need to be suitably consulted if they are to achieve this. | Peter Box, chairman of its economy and transport committee, said: "Councils play a crucial role in growing local economies and improving high streets and need to be suitably consulted if they are to achieve this. |
| "We urge Mary Portas to enter discussions with councils on how they can boost local high streets." | "We urge Mary Portas to enter discussions with councils on how they can boost local high streets." |
| This summer a report found that more than one in 10 town and city centre shops across the UK were vacant at the end of May. | This summer a report found that more than one in 10 town and city centre shops across the UK were vacant at the end of May. |
| The BRC study found the average vacancy rate was 11.2%, rising to 17.1% in Northern Ireland, the worst affected nation or region. | The BRC study found the average vacancy rate was 11.2%, rising to 17.1% in Northern Ireland, the worst affected nation or region. |
| Six English towns had a vacancy rate of between a quarter and third of all stores - according to a different report conducted by retail analysts the Local Data Company and revealed in September. | Six English towns had a vacancy rate of between a quarter and third of all stores - according to a different report conducted by retail analysts the Local Data Company and revealed in September. |