Editorial: Gimmicks won't save our high streets

 

Thursday 14 February 2013 19:58 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

News of a major British high street retailer announcing thousands of job cuts or going into administration comes round with depressing regularity. Earlier this week, the fashion chain Republic took the latter course, following Blockbusters, HMV and Jessops into a place of no return.

The difficulties faced by companies such as these have three main causes: profound changes in consumer behaviour, disruptive technologies and, now, recession. Rescuing the high street, therefore, requires both creativity and determination. Sadly, those two qualities are distinctly lacking from the efforts expended on the so-called “Portas Pilots”, the towns whose fortunes the Government invited the retail expert Mary Portas to try to transform.

Freedom of Information requests seen by this newspaper reveal that 11 pilot schemes, set up following the Portas Review in 2011, have completely failed. Of the £1.2m allocated to those towns, just 12 per cent has been spent, some of it – such as the £1,610 to pay for a person in a Peppa Pig costume – woefully. One could be forgiven for thinking that the Government is responding to the deracination of Britain’s high streets with mere gimmickry.

The long-term challenges may not be soluble. Social changes and rapid technological innovation, together with prolonged economic gloom, are a toxic combination. But there are innovations that local councils should enact to encourage business.

Reducing their reliance on car parks for revenue, and so lowering car parking charges, could encourage consumers to shop in the real world rather than the virtual one. Rent holidays would incentivise start-ups. Improved transport links would generate more weekend trade. None of these measures alone will restore our high streets to health. But they would surely command the respect of the public, which is more than can be said for the projects carried out in the name of the so-called Queen of Shops.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in