Lib Dems launch plans to revitalise Britain's high streets

11.15.58am GMT Wed 17th Feb 2010

Liberal Democrats in Brecon & Radnorshire have set out plans to revitalise local high streets in the constituency, protect the future of Post Offices, and help small businesses establish and grow in a fairer marketplace.

The announcement comes as research shows one in eight shops in the UK 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.

Roger Williams, Brecon & Radnorshire's Liberal Democrat MP said:

"Even before the credit crunch hit, too many small, independent shops had disappeared from the high streets of our market towns."

"We are fortunate that our towns here in Brecon & Radnorshire do still retain many independent shops and diverse businesses. But many shops now lie empty here. The UK and Welsh Assembly Governments' skewed planning systems have seen supermarket giants squeeze the life out of many small towns and now most high streets in Britain have an identical collection of chain stores and coffee shops. We do not want that to happen in Brecon & Radnorshire."

"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. That is why we need to take steps to keep our small, independent shops in vibrant local high streets."