High streets at crisis point

Link to the article Channel 4

A third of high streets are "degenerating or failing", according to a government commissioned review by TV retail expert Mary Portas.

By 2014 less than 40% of retail spending will be on the high street, according to the study, which also found that over the past decade out of town retail floorspace has increased by almost a third while in towns it has shrunk by 14%.

"I believe that our high streets have reached a crisis point. Unless urgent action is taken, much of Britain will lose, irretrievably, something that is fundamental to our society, and which has real social and economic worth to our communities," she said.

The report proposed plans for a national market day in a bid to promote indoor or outdoor markets and help drive traffic towards shops.

She also urged that licensing rules for market stalls should be relaxed to make it easier for people to set up stands in their local high street.