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| More High Street shops shut, says British Retail Consortium | More High Street shops shut, says British Retail Consortium |
| (3 days later) | |
| High Street shop vacancy rates have risen to 17% in Wales while the UK saw a slight reduction. | High Street shop vacancy rates have risen to 17% in Wales while the UK saw a slight reduction. |
| The figures also show a 10% decline in footfall in Wales in January blamed on the increase in closed stores. | The figures also show a 10% decline in footfall in Wales in January blamed on the increase in closed stores. |
| The Welsh Conservatives said the figures showed High Streets in Wales "are faring far worse than those in other parts of the UK". | The Welsh Conservatives said the figures showed High Streets in Wales "are faring far worse than those in other parts of the UK". |
| The Welsh government said it was trying to improve conditions to "allow the private sector to grow". | The Welsh government said it was trying to improve conditions to "allow the private sector to grow". |
| The Federation of Small Business in Wales (FSB ) called on ministers and local authorities to do more "to bring life back to our town centres". | The Federation of Small Business in Wales (FSB ) called on ministers and local authorities to do more "to bring life back to our town centres". |
| The research published on Monday jointly by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and research group Springboard shows footfall in January was 4.6% lower than a year ago in the UK. | The research published on Monday jointly by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and research group Springboard shows footfall in January was 4.6% lower than a year ago in the UK. |
| And the national town centre vacancy rate in the UK was 10.9% in January 2013, down from 11.3% in October 2012. | And the national town centre vacancy rate in the UK was 10.9% in January 2013, down from 11.3% in October 2012. |
| But Wales saw an increase of 1.9% from 15.1% to 17.0%. | But Wales saw an increase of 1.9% from 15.1% to 17.0%. |
| In Mold, Flintshire, there were no empty shops in the run-up to Christmas. | In Mold, Flintshire, there were no empty shops in the run-up to Christmas. |
| 'Ongoing efforts' | 'Ongoing efforts' |
| However, the latest report to the town council said that four have shut their doors in recent weeks. | However, the latest report to the town council said that four have shut their doors in recent weeks. |
| Monmouth Conservative AM Nick Ramsay, shadow minister for business, said: "These figures are concerning and confirm the need for a bold and ambitious strategy from the Welsh government to revitalise the Welsh high street to improve the shopping experience. | Monmouth Conservative AM Nick Ramsay, shadow minister for business, said: "These figures are concerning and confirm the need for a bold and ambitious strategy from the Welsh government to revitalise the Welsh high street to improve the shopping experience. |
| "Vacant and boarded-up shops can make our High Streets look drab and neglected, so we need to use business rates imaginatively to help bring empty premises back into use." | "Vacant and boarded-up shops can make our High Streets look drab and neglected, so we need to use business rates imaginatively to help bring empty premises back into use." |
| A Welsh government spokesman said: "We will consider the report's findings as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the conditions necessary to allow the private sector to grow and create jobs." | A Welsh government spokesman said: "We will consider the report's findings as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the conditions necessary to allow the private sector to grow and create jobs." |
| It has been holding reviews into business rates and the difficulties faced by small businesses in Wales when they try to borrow from banks. | It has been holding reviews into business rates and the difficulties faced by small businesses in Wales when they try to borrow from banks. |
| Out-of-town developments | Out-of-town developments |
| Meanwhile, a Welsh Assembly inquiry was set up to look at ways to regenerate Welsh town centres while local authorities have been trying to take their own action. | Meanwhile, a Welsh Assembly inquiry was set up to look at ways to regenerate Welsh town centres while local authorities have been trying to take their own action. |
| Springboard research director Diane Wehrle blamed the increase in vacancy rates in Wales on the recent closure key High Street names like HMV. | Springboard research director Diane Wehrle blamed the increase in vacancy rates in Wales on the recent closure key High Street names like HMV. |
| "The premise that high vacancy rates tend to perpetuate low footfall appears to hold true with a decline in footfall of -10.1% in Wales alongside an increase in a vacancy rate of 1.9% from October," she said. | "The premise that high vacancy rates tend to perpetuate low footfall appears to hold true with a decline in footfall of -10.1% in Wales alongside an increase in a vacancy rate of 1.9% from October," she said. |
| A FSB Wales spokesperson said a recent survey of members - aside from economic conditions - showed business rates, out-of-town developments and the cost of car parking were the "biggest challenges facing small businesses on the High Street". | A FSB Wales spokesperson said a recent survey of members - aside from economic conditions - showed business rates, out-of-town developments and the cost of car parking were the "biggest challenges facing small businesses on the High Street". |
| She said: "FSB Wales has already welcomed the extension of the small business rate relief by the Welsh government but believes that allowing local authorities to retain a proportion of the business rates they collect would enable them to boost their local economies." | She said: "FSB Wales has already welcomed the extension of the small business rate relief by the Welsh government but believes that allowing local authorities to retain a proportion of the business rates they collect would enable them to boost their local economies." |
| The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), which represents councils, said: "Local government in Wales is working hard to ensure that local high streets and city centres can continue to function with a range of regeneration schemes being put in place to either attract inward investment or devise alternative ways of developing high-street and city centre resilience. | |
| "Increasingly, such activity is focussing on the need to identify alternative uses, and maximise the important contribution that 'other' social and community based activities can make to sustainable high street regeneration." |