Takeaway-filled high streets ‘cut years off our lives’

UNHeALTHY high streets crammed with takeaways, bookmakers and off-licences are killing us, a report has found.

The rise of fast food outlets, tanning shops and payday loan stores is fuelling a public health crisis by cutting life expectancies in those who live nearby.

The royal Society for Public Health found those locals die younger than those who live near to plenty of libraries, pharmacies and leisure centres.

The rSPH ranked 70 high streets based on the number of shops that either promote or discourage healthy living, with Grimsby named the unhealthiest town, followed by Walsall and Blackpool.

Those living in the ten healthiest areas lived on average two-and-ahalf years longer than those with the ten unhealthiest high streets, the report found.

It added that 4,000 new fast food outlets have opened nationally in the past five years. Deprived areas have five times more fast food shops than wealthy neighbourhoods.

An increase in empty shops was also singled out as a concern.

The study highlighted the link between crime rates and empty shops, which tend to be a hub for anti- social activity such as drugdealing and vandalism. The number of vacant shops across the UK has increased from below 7 per cent in 2007 to 11 per cent in 2017, the report said.

rSPH chief Shirley Cramer said: ‘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.’

edinburgh was crowned the healthiest high street, with Canterbury and Taunton rounding off the top three. They were followed by Shrewsbury, Cheltenham, York, Brighton & Hove, eastbourne, exeter and Cambridge.