Road to ruin, high streets that are bad for your health
It also noted that “empty shops are most numerous in areas of high deprivation” and the average high street vacancy rate increased from seven per cent in 2007 to 11 per cent in 2017.
The RSPH has now called for the Government to introduce new measures, such as providing business rates relief for businesses that promote good health and a requirement for those selling food to reduce the calories in their products.
Ms Cramer added: “While we broadly welcome the package of measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer this week, we are concerned that they do not go far enough.
“Local authorities, who are well placed to make changes, are currently operating with one hand tied behind their backs.
“This is due to ongoing funding cuts, particularly in some of the more deprived areas that feature prominently in these rankings.
“Many local authorities are doing good work with the resources they have, but they need to be backed, both financially and with enhanced powers, by central government if they are to succeed in reshaping high streets for the better.”
Welcoming the report, Michael Chang, project and policy manager at the Town and Country Planning Association, said: “We shouldn’t underestimate how important the British high street is to everybody’s daily lives and the important contributing role town planners and the planning system have to effect change to healthier high streets.”
UNHEALTHIEST...
1. 2. Walsall 3. 4. Stoke-on-Trent 5. 6. Northampton 7. 8. Wolverhampton 9. 10. Bradford 1. 2. Canterbury 3. 4. Shrewsbury 5. 6. York 7. 8. Eastbourne 9. 10. Cambridge
IS IT REALLY SO GRIM IN GRIMSBY?