There has recently been some bad news for our local high streets, with several shop closures announced.

As a Chartered Accountant working in retail, I have first-hand experience of the challenges facing our high streets and where both government and local councils need to do more to help support local businesses. 

The issue is a complicated one and there is no magic wand that can be waved but there are a few key things I want to briefly highlight, about where I think we need to do more.

Firstly, I believe we need to have a complete reassessment of the way business rates work. They are a huge fixed cost for businesses and are far too often the difference between high street stores being profitable or not. I am glad that the Government is listening to the concerns of business and from April will be cutting business rates for small shops by 33%, which will make a substantial difference to many struggling high street shops.

Secondly, it is important that both businesses and local councils work together to make our high streets easier and more enjoyable places to shop. That involves a lot of different things such as improved public toilet facilities (I am pleased that I was able to successfully lobby for Buxton Waitrose to fix their customer toilets: https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/news/buxton-s-waitrose-toilets-are-re-opened-1-9566257) and helping to preserve the unique character of our town centres.

The work to renovate the Crescent in Buxton and Glossop Town Hall are a key part of this locally, as are the improvements to Pavilion Gardens, as well as the reopening of The Octagon. The long overdue reopening of the Millennium Walkway in New Mills is also really positive news.

Thirdly, it is vital that we make it easier for people to get to our town centres to shop. That involves not just improved parking but also improving cycling access and looking at electric car charge points. It also needs significant amounts of infrastructure investment in both our road and rail networks, so that more people can visit our towns and support the high streets. Quite simply, we need faster, more frequent trains and better roads.

The approved schemes such as the £170million Mottram Bypass & Glossop Spur and the £30million Hope Valley line passing loops are an important step in the right direction. But there is so much more that needs to be done.

Finally, I think it is important that people stop talking down our towns. We should be proud of our town centres and should be taking every opportunity to promote them. Yes - there are lots of things we need to improve but let's not forget how special our towns are. Let's work together to spread the word and support our high streets.

There are, of course, a huge number of other things that we need to do to support our high streets. But I am keen to know what you think.

If you have any suggestions or thoughts you want to share, please do get in touch and let me know.