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| Wales' flagging High Streets 'need national strategy' | Wales' flagging High Streets 'need national strategy' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Many of Wales' High Streets are flagging and need strong leadership from the Welsh government and revised planning policy, a report says. | Many of Wales' High Streets are flagging and need strong leadership from the Welsh government and revised planning policy, a report says. |
| A clearer national strategy is needed to regenerate towns like Caerphilly, Welshpool and Denbigh, says the assembly's enterprise committee. | A clearer national strategy is needed to regenerate towns like Caerphilly, Welshpool and Denbigh, says the assembly's enterprise committee. |
| Challenges include competition from out-of-town developments, rising business rates and parking charges. | Challenges include competition from out-of-town developments, rising business rates and parking charges. |
| Ministers said they backed regeneration and would consider the findings. | Ministers said they backed regeneration and would consider the findings. |
| The Federation of Small Businesses said concerted action was needed. | The Federation of Small Businesses said concerted action was needed. |
| The report from the assembly's cross-party enterprise and business committee wants co-ordination of policy, planning as well as financial considerations to promote town centres. | The report from the assembly's cross-party enterprise and business committee wants co-ordination of policy, planning as well as financial considerations to promote town centres. |
| The 21 recommendations include: | The 21 recommendations include: |
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| Committee chair Nick Ramsey AM said: "Our inquiry showed that throughout Wales there are examples of weak and vulnerable High Streets, blighted by empty premises and poor shopping environments. | Committee chair Nick Ramsey AM said: "Our inquiry showed that throughout Wales there are examples of weak and vulnerable High Streets, blighted by empty premises and poor shopping environments. |
| "Key to tackling these issues is strong, effective leadership at ministerial level, which must then be complemented locally in towns and communities across Wales. | "Key to tackling these issues is strong, effective leadership at ministerial level, which must then be complemented locally in towns and communities across Wales. |
| "We want Welsh towns to have comprehensive plans, developed by local stakeholders, which contain actions for addressing the issues affecting town centres." | "We want Welsh towns to have comprehensive plans, developed by local stakeholders, which contain actions for addressing the issues affecting town centres." |
| The FSB, which has 10,000 members in Wales, gave evidence to the inquiry. | The FSB, which has 10,000 members in Wales, gave evidence to the inquiry. |
| Welsh policy unit chair Janet Jones said: "Today's report offers a welcome, well-evidenced insight into the challenges facing high streets across Wales. | Welsh policy unit chair Janet Jones said: "Today's report offers a welcome, well-evidenced insight into the challenges facing high streets across Wales. |
| "Whilst it is positive to see such consensus from a range of perspectives, we now want concerted action from the Welsh Government. | "Whilst it is positive to see such consensus from a range of perspectives, we now want concerted action from the Welsh Government. |
| "These recommendations must be acted upon to secure positive trading conditions for retailers in town centres across Wales." | "These recommendations must be acted upon to secure positive trading conditions for retailers in town centres across Wales." |
| Caerphilly retailer Eddie Talbot, who runs Jet Models and Hobbies, summed up trading conditions in his town with one word: "Dire." | Caerphilly retailer Eddie Talbot, who runs Jet Models and Hobbies, summed up trading conditions in his town with one word: "Dire." |
| He continued: "The bottom end of town is suffering slightly with the development there, but the top end of the town is suffering terribly. | He continued: "The bottom end of town is suffering slightly with the development there, but the top end of the town is suffering terribly. |
| "There are a number of issues that need to be addressed like business rates and a level playing field with out-of-town retailers. | "There are a number of issues that need to be addressed like business rates and a level playing field with out-of-town retailers. |
| "They aggressively target the smaller traders. Combined with the recession, it's difficult." | "They aggressively target the smaller traders. Combined with the recession, it's difficult." |
| Mr Talbot said a recent Welsh government-sponsored holiday from business rates had helped but that retailers would be back to square one when it ended, and added not all retailers had been eligible for it. | Mr Talbot said a recent Welsh government-sponsored holiday from business rates had helped but that retailers would be back to square one when it ended, and added not all retailers had been eligible for it. |
| He believed recent roadworks which ran from the summer to Christmas had compounded the problem, taking trade away from the centre. | He believed recent roadworks which ran from the summer to Christmas had compounded the problem, taking trade away from the centre. |
| "I know one retailer who's been here for 40 years who's looking at selling up. I don't know anybody who's doing really well." | "I know one retailer who's been here for 40 years who's looking at selling up. I don't know anybody who's doing really well." |
| Mr Talbot would like to see town centre parking made free or subsidised, saying at present out-of-town retailers had an advantage in that customers could park there for free. | Mr Talbot would like to see town centre parking made free or subsidised, saying at present out-of-town retailers had an advantage in that customers could park there for free. |
| "We have got a car park in the town centre which is a park-and-ride for Cardiff, yet the town centre car park is half a mile away." | "We have got a car park in the town centre which is a park-and-ride for Cardiff, yet the town centre car park is half a mile away." |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said it saw town centres as the heart of sustainable local communities - providing places to shop, do business and socialise. | A Welsh government spokesperson said it saw town centres as the heart of sustainable local communities - providing places to shop, do business and socialise. |
| "Our commitment to regenerating town centres is reflected in a range of programmes from the historic and built environment, housing, business support, transport and tourism," said the spokesperson. | "Our commitment to regenerating town centres is reflected in a range of programmes from the historic and built environment, housing, business support, transport and tourism," said the spokesperson. |
| "Although there are similar issues affecting all towns, we believe that each town has unique issues that require individual solutions, delivered by local people who know and understand their communities. | "Although there are similar issues affecting all towns, we believe that each town has unique issues that require individual solutions, delivered by local people who know and understand their communities. |
| "We have supported town centre regeneration schemes across Wales. We will consider the findings of the report and respond in due course." | "We have supported town centre regeneration schemes across Wales. We will consider the findings of the report and respond in due course." |
| Is your local high street in Wales struggling? If so, what do you think is needed to improve things? | Is your local high street in Wales struggling? If so, what do you think is needed to improve things? |
| We are landlords and work in partnership with a number of retailers. Rates without doubt are the most damaging taxes to overcome and are most expensive in the high street. Internet based competitors operating from cheap locations (even home garages on occasion) are not subject to the same tax regime. There will doubtless come a point when we will need to decide whether we really want a high street, do away with rates in favour of a profits linked progressive tax structure and ensure the high street is not subject to tougher hurdles than out of town rivals and internet based outlets. A key strength of Welsh towns and cities are its attractive high streets and at this time of economic and technological change we are accelerating their decline. I have every sympathy for shop keepers. | We are landlords and work in partnership with a number of retailers. Rates without doubt are the most damaging taxes to overcome and are most expensive in the high street. Internet based competitors operating from cheap locations (even home garages on occasion) are not subject to the same tax regime. There will doubtless come a point when we will need to decide whether we really want a high street, do away with rates in favour of a profits linked progressive tax structure and ensure the high street is not subject to tougher hurdles than out of town rivals and internet based outlets. A key strength of Welsh towns and cities are its attractive high streets and at this time of economic and technological change we are accelerating their decline. I have every sympathy for shop keepers. |
| Christopher Odling-Smee, Cardiff, | Christopher Odling-Smee, Cardiff, |
| Tonypandy Town Centre is dying on its feet, and Porth is suffering equally badly it seems, and what does Rhondda Cynon Taf CB Council do about it, but introduce charges in all Council run car parks. What planet are these people on? | Tonypandy Town Centre is dying on its feet, and Porth is suffering equally badly it seems, and what does Rhondda Cynon Taf CB Council do about it, but introduce charges in all Council run car parks. What planet are these people on? |
| Barrie Griffiths, Rhondda Cynon Taf, | Barrie Griffiths, Rhondda Cynon Taf, |
| The problem of dying high streets is a large and growing issue. I admit to mobility problems at the moment but it is a long time since I willingly went to a local high street. Too many are neglected with boarded up shops and nothing to draw me there. However, there is plenty to put me off! Difficult and expensive parking, road schemes designed to make access difficult and shops that lack the cash to carry enough stock to make them appeal as destinations. Probably 80% of the family Christmas shopping was done over the internet. Question 1, Are the parking costs and limitations, the access difficulties and the resulting unemployment a worthwhile package? Question 2 Are the financial and social costs of lost jobs and the shopping environment worth less than the desire to do harm through recent cost increases like rates, parking and difficult access? | The problem of dying high streets is a large and growing issue. I admit to mobility problems at the moment but it is a long time since I willingly went to a local high street. Too many are neglected with boarded up shops and nothing to draw me there. However, there is plenty to put me off! Difficult and expensive parking, road schemes designed to make access difficult and shops that lack the cash to carry enough stock to make them appeal as destinations. Probably 80% of the family Christmas shopping was done over the internet. Question 1, Are the parking costs and limitations, the access difficulties and the resulting unemployment a worthwhile package? Question 2 Are the financial and social costs of lost jobs and the shopping environment worth less than the desire to do harm through recent cost increases like rates, parking and difficult access? |
| Richard Jones, Sawbridgworth, | Richard Jones, Sawbridgworth, |
| I would suggest that for most towns especially small ones like ours, the answer is staring all of us in the face - and it's not rocket science. Here in Newcastle Emlyn for example inconsiderate parking on the main road blocks traffic and is caused in part my recently increased car park chargers. Give traders good access for their customers, ease back on business rates, and restrict commercial unloading to an appropriate hours. This would at least in part be a way forward. Our town needs to be able to breathe, not choked to a slow death. | I would suggest that for most towns especially small ones like ours, the answer is staring all of us in the face - and it's not rocket science. Here in Newcastle Emlyn for example inconsiderate parking on the main road blocks traffic and is caused in part my recently increased car park chargers. Give traders good access for their customers, ease back on business rates, and restrict commercial unloading to an appropriate hours. This would at least in part be a way forward. Our town needs to be able to breathe, not choked to a slow death. |
| Graham Thompson, Newcastle Emlyn, | Graham Thompson, Newcastle Emlyn, |
| There needs to be innovation to encourage new businesses to consider retail. The business support structure does not aid retail businesses and none of the main anchor franchises on our high streets are Welsh. Business angels need a scheme where investment is made in the way of initial stock purchasing, where the shopkeeper builds to a situation where a management buyout scenario is possible. This performance based system encourages people to try their idea out, at least. As part of the St David's 2 development, 9 enterprise units have been built in the city centre. Only 1 is occupied after 12 months. Mr Odling-Smee makes a good point about rates inhibiting these risk takers. | There needs to be innovation to encourage new businesses to consider retail. The business support structure does not aid retail businesses and none of the main anchor franchises on our high streets are Welsh. Business angels need a scheme where investment is made in the way of initial stock purchasing, where the shopkeeper builds to a situation where a management buyout scenario is possible. This performance based system encourages people to try their idea out, at least. As part of the St David's 2 development, 9 enterprise units have been built in the city centre. Only 1 is occupied after 12 months. Mr Odling-Smee makes a good point about rates inhibiting these risk takers. |
| Gareth Jones, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Llangollen, | Gareth Jones, Cardiff, Caerphilly and Llangollen, |
| Why "protect" the high street? The cold hard truth is that decline in high street shopping is due to the fact that the way people choose to shop has evolved, and the high street is not part of that evolution. Evolve or die. | Why "protect" the high street? The cold hard truth is that decline in high street shopping is due to the fact that the way people choose to shop has evolved, and the high street is not part of that evolution. Evolve or die. |
| Robert Price, Caerphilly, | Robert Price, Caerphilly, |
| Why are people so attached to High Steets? They were a useful feature for a hundred years or so, but they are now well past their sell-by date, and we should stop worrying about them, and let them die in peace! I'm fed up with politicians (many of whom I know own town centre properties), trying to tell me (as a consumer) where THEY think I should be shopping! | Why are people so attached to High Steets? They were a useful feature for a hundred years or so, but they are now well past their sell-by date, and we should stop worrying about them, and let them die in peace! I'm fed up with politicians (many of whom I know own town centre properties), trying to tell me (as a consumer) where THEY think I should be shopping! |
| Dave Harvey, Swansea, | Dave Harvey, Swansea, |
| Town retailers need to start working together to regenerate their high streets. For too long, the rents and rates have been too high - now is the time to negotiate them down. Traders need to push for free car parking, better signs where needed and start offering better value /special offers etc. This is a long process and needs to be addressed by traders with a common interest. Other than specialist products, High Street shopping is not being lost to the internet, there needs to be more choice and more specialist shops other than the jack of all trades currently. Have you noticed how many different industries now sell greetings cards? As the conglomerates go out of business, the future is with the small retailers and for their survival it is imperative that they renegotiate their rents, rates and other costs DOWN to where they should be. | Town retailers need to start working together to regenerate their high streets. For too long, the rents and rates have been too high - now is the time to negotiate them down. Traders need to push for free car parking, better signs where needed and start offering better value /special offers etc. This is a long process and needs to be addressed by traders with a common interest. Other than specialist products, High Street shopping is not being lost to the internet, there needs to be more choice and more specialist shops other than the jack of all trades currently. Have you noticed how many different industries now sell greetings cards? As the conglomerates go out of business, the future is with the small retailers and for their survival it is imperative that they renegotiate their rents, rates and other costs DOWN to where they should be. |
| Dafydd Morgan, Aberystwyth, | Dafydd Morgan, Aberystwyth, |
| Free, plentiful parking and reduced rates. Do both of those, and the high street will recover. | |
| Neil Williams, Milton Keynes, | |
| Out of town developments are successful because parking is free and close to the stores. Parking for shoppers in ALL town centres should be free. ticket on entry, pay on exit systems can be set so that arrival after say 0900 and a stay of max 4 or 5 hours is free. Early arrival and longer stays that would apply to workers would be chargeable. There must be sufficient accessible, clean and safe car parks provided by the councils and chambers of trade. The expenditure will be recouped from more, profitable shops. | |
| Alan Newbery, Pembrokeshire, |