Lives are ‘cut short’ by high streets in decline

‘Unhealthy’ stores blight region’s deprived areas

A TRIO of Yorkshire and Humber high streets are today named as among the “unhealthiest” in the country, with too many betting shops, fast food outlets and off-licences potentially shortening the lives of their residents.

Research by the Royal Society for Public Health found that residents living in towns with lots of bookies and off-licences die younger than those with plenty of libraries and pharmacies.

Its ranking of 70 high streets found those living in the top 10 healthy areas lived an average of two-and-a-half years longer than those with the 10 unhealthiest high streets.

Bradford and Huddersfield were both among the 10 unhealthiest places, with Grimsby named as the unhealthiest town.

But York was among the 10 healthiest places, as an inquiry was launched by the council into whether the city centre can “weather the storm” facing the nation’s high streets.

Bradford South MP Judith Cummins said she was unsurprised by the findings and blamed the Government’s austerity cuts for hitting post-industrial cities and towns harder than other areas. The Labour MP told

The Yorkshire Post, which has been running a Love Your High Street Campaign: “High streets up and down the country face a similar array of challenges due to changes in society, but it is unsurprising that relatively less well-off areas have more ‘unhealthy’ businesses compared to leafier, more affluent places in the south.

“Our high streets are running on empty because they been subject to a harsh Government austerity programme for eight years. Investment has been sucked from towns and cities and those in the north, particularly those still dealing with de-industrialisation, have been hit disproportionately.

“The local authorities that would be well-placed to make changes have faced severe funding cuts from the Government.”

Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake, whose Thirsk and Malton constituency has seen trailblazing moves on this issue, meanwhile insisted that “most of the changes to our high streets and town centres are being driven by consumer behaviour”.

He welcomed Chancellor Philip Hammond’s moves in the Budget to give 500,000 small retailers a third off their business rates and a £650m fund to improve transport for struggling town centres and to turn empty shops into homes and offices.

He added: “Local authorities and private landlords can also help by lowering car parking charges, desisting from giving permissions for more retail space in out of town shopping centres and helping town centre and high street businesses to work together under a common identity or local offering. An excellent example of this is Malton which has successfully built an identity as the food capital of Yorkshire.”

Kieron Boyle, chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity, said the report showed how factors beyond health and social care influence people’s wellbeing.

THE LOVE Your High Street campaign being championed by The Yorkshire Post, and sister titles, has highlighted the difficulties facing small shops – difficulties acknowledged by Chancellor Philip Hammond with his £1.5bn rescue plan in this week’s Budget to primarily help all those independent stores struggling to pay their business rates in addition to their rent and other overheads.

As well as encouraging consumers to support local stores, the campaign is also helping to shape the growing debate about the future of high streets – and what uses can be found for those buildings which now stand empty. It is given added credence by research by the Royal Society for Public Health which suggests a preponderance of ‘unhealthy’ businesses like fast food outlets, betting shops and off licences is harming the wellbeing of local residents.

It’s a double-edged sword. Some will argue – with reason – that any shop is better than no store at all, but the findings by the RSPH should not be overlooked as local councils are challenged to come up with plans to reinvigorate their town centres and win a share of the Treasury funding that is now available for regeneration plans.

Pop-up shops, start-up offices and new homes all have a role to play – the most successful high streets in the future will be those which innovate now – and there’s a case for political priority being given to those communities highlighted by public health experts. For, if such areas can be made more appealing, the potential economic and health benefits will transcend public policy.