Advantage guest hired by Government to rescue high street shops
Prime Minister David Cameron is so worried about the dramatic decline of British retailing that he has hired retail guru Mary Portas, best known as TV’s Mary Queen of Shops, to rescue high streets across the UK.
Portas hinted at the new role during her guest appearance at the Advantage conference earlier this month, saying that she would be working with the government to look at ways to prevent the further decline of independent retailers.
She told delegates at the Madrid conference: "I am working with the Government looking at the future of high street retailing and what is going to happen to high street shopping if we all shop online."
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills confirmed today that Portas has been charged to look at the problem of empty shops and ways to prevent the growth of "clone towns" dominated by chainstores. She will visit town centres across the UK over the summer and present her findings to deputy prime minister Nick Clegg in the autumn.
Independent travel agents have been amongst the worst hit by the gradual drift away from high street shopping, with almost one in four agencies shutting shop over the past five years.
There are now 24% fewer travel agencies than there were in 2006, according to brochure distribution company BP Marketing.
Portas said: "With town centre vacancy rates doubling over the last two years the need to take action to save our high streets has never been starker.
"I am calling on businesses, local authorities and shoppers to contribute their ideas on how we can halt this decline in its tracks and create town centres that we can all be proud of."
Clegg said: "Empty high streets are a blight on the local economy. Vacant shops are also a wasted opportunity with far reaching consequences.
"When goods and services start to disappear, our sense of community can be weakened and undermined. It is vital therefore that we examine what steps can be taken to revitalise and reinvigorate high street shopping centres across the country."
Cameron added: "The high street should be at the very heart of every community, bringing people together, providing essential services and creating jobs and investment; so it is vital that we do all that we can to ensure they thrive.
"That is why I am delighted that Mary Portas has agreed to take on this review and I am confident that her straight-talking, no-nonsense approach will help us to create vibrant and diverse town centres and bring back the bustle to our high streets."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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