Lots of social and community wellbeing, economic growth and employment is generated by the High Street. It is essential that our councils and Government act to halt and reverse the deterioration.
The negative effect of too many landlords is crippling too many High Streets, as was reported by Mary Portas, with several recommendations associated with this.
Many of the small businesses in the FSB are operating on these high streets, struggling to make it look attractive. This, whilst less scrupulous business people, often from more affluent areas, gamble on property prices while draining the area of it’s very life force, lowering the property prices.
There should be a responsibility that goes with owning a property on a High Street; sitting on it whilst it goes to “rack and ruin” to make money in the long-run should no longer be an option. Councils should actively and aggressively pursue business rates for unoccupied commercial premises. Not doing so, costs the community doubly, as the council loses funds, and the negligent landlords are not motivated to fill the properties by being charged business rates. Landlords of High Street properties should have a responsibility to have an action plan which aims at the occupation of the commercial part of the property.
This could and should include communication of who to contact to rent the property, the rental price, the standard of the property, and more active options such as allowing the use of the premises for pop-up shop purposes etc.
Allowing the deterioration of our High Streets has to end. And this is even more true of Blackpool and other tourist towns as recreation visitors expect pretty places.
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