With So Many Famous High Street Shops Going Bust How Would You Revive The UK High Street?

I actually think what is happening is a natural progression away from high street 'foot traffic' due to internet sales and supermarket domination. It is almost a 'retail revolution' out there and is unlikely to be reversed. However, shops like Shoezone or the plethora of pound shops are likely to stay as people simply 'go cheap'. Factor in high commercial rents and business rates, and you have a recipe for more closures in 2012. I walk around high streets as part of my job and the sight of empty shops, empty commercial units and clearly failing businesses is actually very dispiriting, almost ugly at times. Commercial greed has come home to roost as more and more people seek cheapness at any cost and that is usually away from the high street.

I think we need to support local where we feel we can.

We probably have ourselves to blame to some extent.In order to save money we compare prices and shop online especially for major purchases like white goods. Bookshops are particularly at risk both from supermarkets but also from customers that browse the shop then scan the book with their phone and order on-line. A high street shop cannot compete with an on-line retailer that has much smaller overheads. Maybe local councils have to do something radical such as offering a rates holiday for small retailers in categories of importance locally. Maybe one in each category such as a shoe shop, electrical repair shop, post office, independant cafe etc.The main thing is that we need to support retailers if we want them to stay. How many of us have done our Christmas shopping locally and will buy our Christmas food from local shops?

i think that something of what you worry is coming to true ,but i don't think the property developers can take over !
some changes may happen in the later years !

I agree, we are indeed the author of our own perceived misfortune in not supporting small local shops. I live on the edge of a semi rural area and I have a small Budgen convenience store within two minutes walk ... this shop survives because it has a car park and is open long hours, 7am to 10pm I believe. But it has limited stocks and is not cheap and survives on its service factor to the local community. Our other shop, a newsagent, is hanging on by a thread and I get me daily newspapers delivered from there ... the proprietor said that when Tescos opened up in the town in November 2008, business went down by 30% immediately and that has increased now to 40-50%. Alas he closes at 5pm whereas Tesco is open for another seven hours after that. And while I would dearly loved to support him more, my paper bill is an expense that I now have to cut, simply to save money, and the newsagent told me that newspaper accounts are being lost every week as the economy bites.

Sad to say but the small shop is fast disappearing along with the sole traders/small businesses that run them. It is simply a sign of a progressive society.

All we have in our village now is one shop which we are very grateful for as it has a post office attached to it and it sells newspapers and a small amount of groceries including aspirins, plasters and anything like that. It is great as an emergency but only has a small selection. The vegetables are not very good but we do have a farm which sells a small amount of vegetables which are very good.

Our only pub is trying to survive and has recently been taken over. They have the usual darts, dominoes, etc. but there is an advertisement for
afternoon tea with optional bingo. The tea is small slice of cake, a scone with a bit of cream on and a cuppa and the cost is £9.95 for two but then you have drinks later and bingo extra which makes it a dear afternoon out when it would mostly be pensioners who would go. I think if they had charged £2.50 they would have made far more as lots would have gone as it is, word has it that hardly anyone is attending as that is a real shame as we don't have much else except painting lessons and indoor bowling. Exciting or what!

Resind the 2.5% hike in VAT imposed by the robbing gits in power in this country.

Local authorities need to reduce their rates. The landlords also should consider this or giving rent free periods or an agreement with a short get out clause, say 3 or 6 months. Some councils restrict their premises being used for what they call the wrong type of business (a discount store, a second hand store and even a charity shop) in their parades. This not only reduces the councils revenue but also brings the area down I feel.

The answer is simple...if you want to keep your local high street shops, use them!

Our local small market town high street has lost a few shops in recent times, but the local people have realised what's happening and are making the effort to use them again. We now have two new shops that have opened recently, also one that has moved premises and been totally refitted, and a new building society has arrived. A new restaurant has been going for quite a while now too, and a new coffee shop.

When the new Tesco store arrived, the locals lobbied to have its hours restricted, it closes at 8pm rather than the 10pm that Tesco wanted, so it didn't have as much impact on other shops and it kept any potential anti-social behaviour at night at bay.

Who knows if this will all last and save our town, but at least we're trying!

Isn't this more about the public's mindset.

Even on this site people are directed to bargain's or discounts on established products so PRICE plays a huge part in directing footfall. Equally in our fast moving society, convenience and speed of convenience also plays a huge part.

Often these combinations can be found in larger retail outlets, where also free parking can be had. Or on the internet.

More and more town centre parking is becoming prohibitive due to cost, councils in these economic stringent times have to accept some responsibility for the death of the high street, in their rents, business rates and other costs.

I am aware that many years ago M&S were keen to pull out of Hackney in east London. The local council realised that to lose such a famous name from their high street would have a negative impact upon the area and so, to my understanding, a deal was struck that ensured they stayed.

If such deals can be done for big names then surely similar deals and incentives can be offered to attract business to our carbon copy high streets!

Betting shops, charity shops, coffee shops, the odd national chain bakery and main supermarket high street outlets like Metro and Local.

This requires a co-ordinated and joined up approach to planning and our elected representatives have to start earning their crust by ensuring a comprehensive review and policy is implemented before all our high streets become desolate centres of nothingness but crime and ghetto's for undesirables.