Leonard warns of devastating job losses in Scots 'ghost towns' amid High Street decline

The Scottish Government has been urged to launch a "Save Scotland's High Streets" fund amid growing concerns over deserted town and city centres across the country.

Labour leader Richard Leonard has warned of “devastating job losses” and many firms going to the wall unless action is taken to tackle the problem.

The economy shrunk by a fifth nor th of the B order at the height of the coronavirus pandemic and bars and restaurants have been ordered to shut down across central Scotland in an effort to arrest the virus.

There are fears the end to the furlough scheme at the end of the month may b e the final straw for many.

“All these crises spell potential economic ruin, not just for retail in the big city centres like Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, but in communities the length and breadth of Scotland,” Mr Leonard states in his Scotsman column today.

“The loss of once thriving stores, leaving boarded-up and empty properties in their wake, could turn whole communities into ghost towns.”

He added: “The Scottish Government must use its next budget to launch a ‘Save the Scottish High Street’ fund, to offer substantial financial support to communities hit with large scale shops closures and left with empty properties during Covid.”

A register of land lords of empty shops and properties should be launched, the Labour leader adds, with a revaluation of business rates for firms experiencing hardship and to help new start-ups.

The Scottish Government said: “We are committed to supporting town centres and the wider retail sector as they face the challenge of changing and evolving retail patterns.