Policy Hub
On 14 August 2009, Urban Forum published a report which finds that the disappearance of butchers, greengrocers and other small retailers from the high street is disproportionately affecting older people and low income families.
Urban Forum suggests that around 80% of people travel outside their local community in order to meet basic everyday needs. The report also finds that 40% of respondents claimed that their local Post Office had already closed or was under threat of closure while almost a half of those polled said that children's play spaces in their community were poor or bad.
The report contends that local authorities should take steps to ensure that there are adequate shops and facilities to meet community needs. This should be done through local council plans such as the Local Development Framework and the Sustainable Community Strategy.
The report further recommends that business rates should be weighted in favour of smaller, independent shops if they are to survive on the high street; planning proposals should be simplified; and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 should be strengthened to allow local authorities to bring derelict properties back into use.