Liberal Democrats launch plans to revitalise Britain's high streets

10.00.00pm GMT Fri 12th Feb 2010

Mark Blackburn, parliamentary campaigner for Westminster North, in front of a local Westminster shop

Liberal Democrats in Westminster have today set out plans to revitalise Britain's high streets, protect the future of the Post Office, and help small businesses establish and grow in a fairer marketplace.

The announcement comes as research shows one in eight shops is now empty after the recession. The report, published by the Local Data Company (LDC), says that vacancies shot up by 24% in the second half of 2009.

PPC for Westminster North, Mark Blackburn, who has also led a campaign to save local shops, said:

"Even before the credit crunch hit, small independent shops had more or less disappeared from Westminster's main high streets."

"The Government's skewed planning system has seen supermarket giants squeeze the life out of towns like ours and now almost every high street in Britain is an identical collection of chain stores and coffee shops."

"The financial crisis has exposed Labour and the Conservatives' folly of being entirely dependent on the City of London. The Liberal Democrats understand that it will be small businesses that are key to building a healthy and balanced economy."

Also commenting, parliamentary campaigner for Cities of London and Westminster, Naomi Smith, said:

"Thriving high streets are at the heart of local communities."

"But it has been our high streets that have borne the brunt of this recession, with boarded up shops scarring towns and villages across Britain."

"We need a thriving high street in Westminster, one with real character that allows local businesses to survive and grow."

"I believe that people value the wide range of goods and services available locally and want to see their high streets thrive and prosper."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

The document includes proposals to

• Encourage the development of a PostBank and free the Post Office from the Royal Mail to enable it to develop new business

Introduce a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail developments to establish a fairer balance between local independent stores and large supermarkets

• Establish a system of Local Enterprise Funds and regional stock exchanges to ensure small businesses get access to cost effective equity that meets their needs