The Government review, spearheaded by retail guru Mary Portas and designed to breathe new life into Britain’s ailing High Streets, cannot come soon enough according to a new report by uSwitch.com, in conjunction with research company, EasyInsites. It reveals that less than half of Brits (49%) are proud of their local town centre. More worryingly, a quarter of people (25%) used to be proud, but aren’t any more – a sad indictment of how Britain’s High Streets are going downhill.
Poor choice of shops (41%), high prices (29%) and shabbiness (12%) are driving people away from their local High Street. The high cost of parking a car is an issue for almost a quarter (22%) while 25% lament the fact that the recession has closed shops down.
The picture being painted is of a place people want to get away from, rather than go to. In fact, two in ten shoppers have already turned their backs on their local High Street (22%) choosing to shop in shopping centres, retail parks or online instead. Just 6% of loyal shoppers use their local High Street religiously.
Boarded up and vacant shops are the biggest culprit for making Britain’s High Streets look shabby (69%). People blame high rents (66%), high rates (60%) and the fact that small businesses can’t compete with the big retailers (64%) for the rash of vacant shops scarring High Streets up and down the country.
Despite this, almost a quarter of people (24%) would like to see their local town centre get a new lease of life through the arrival of a big name department store, such as John Lewis or House of Fraser. At the same time, almost two in ten (19%) would like to see new independent retailers such as florists, greengrocers, bakers and butchers, livening up their main shopping street. Just over one in ten (14%) would like to see a farmers market set up in their town centre.
The majority of Brits, 97%, care about their local High Street with 61% saying that it is vital to the community. They believe it is the lifeblood of their area because it provides local jobs (80%), is invaluable to those unable to travel, such as the elderly (77%), provides essential services and products (58%) and creates a feeling of local pride (47%).
With so much depending on Britain’s High Streets unsurprisingly 67% of Brits support the idea of an independent Government Review headed by retail guru Mary Portas. As part of the rescue plan, they would like to see free car parking to encourage shoppers back into town (76%), more variety (41%), cleaner pavements and streets (54%) and fewer charity shops (42%)[10]. Whatever the outcome of the review, what is clear is that Britain’s High Streets are letting consumers and their communities down.
Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at uSwitch.com, says: “Britain’s High Streets should be the lifeblood of the local community – instead they are dying on their feet. High rents, rates and the recession have forced many retailers off the High Street altogether, while preventing new independents or start-ups from taking their place. Consumers often blame the larger retailers for the lack of choice on our High Streets, but the reality is that very often it is only the draw of a larger store that is keeping some town centres alive.
“The good thing is that 97% of consumers care about their local town centre – they want to see it thrive and they would like to be able to spend their money there. We are living in financially difficult times so anything that can relieve this pressure, such as free car parking for shoppers, will go down well. Yes this would cost local councils money, but we would all see the reward in a boost to civic and community pride.”
| Proud of local town centre | Used to be proud but not any more | Poor choice of shops | Shabby | High street is vital to the community | |
| East of England | 50% | 26% | 39% | 8% | 65% |
| London | 53% | 23% | 38% | 6% | 70% |
| Midlands | 48% | 32% | 40% | 10% | 58% |
| North East | 53% | 25% | 45% | 15% | 59% |
| North West | 52% | 23% | 33% | 11% | 52% |
| South East | 47% | 22% | 45% | 11% | 66% |
| South West | 57% | 18% | 39% | 13% | 65% |
| Scotland | 37% | 24% | 49% | 18% | 56% |
| Wales | 46% | 30% | 41% | 13% | 63% |
| Northern Ireland | 36% | 27% | 27% | 9% | 55% |
| British average | 49% | 25% | 41% | 12% | 61% |
Source : uSwitch.com
