Urgent action is needed to prevent high street businesses and town centre shops from pulling their shutters down for the last time.
That was the message from South Wales East MS Natasha Asghar this week as she challenged the Welsh Government’s economy Minister.
Despite being the lifeblood of many communities across Wales, town centre and high street businesses are facing an increasingly challenging environment.
Natasha Asghar MS told Economy Minister Rebecca Evans MS:
“Businesses are struggling with the National Insurance hike imposed by your Labour colleagues in London, they are being punished with the highest business rates in Great Britain and they are having to compete with out-of-town shopping centres and online retailers. It is certainly not easy for them.”
Natasha explained how the current state of town centres was a hot topic of conversation at her recent advice surgery in Blackwood.
She told the Welsh Parliament:
“The town has seen a number of shops pull their shutters down for the last time, with the finger of blame being pointed at the high levels of business rates.
“It’s not something exclusive to Blackwood, it’s happening right across my region of South Wales East.”
Natasha stressed the need for urgent action to help reduce the financial burden facing businesses, and insisted the government needs to work with local authorities to fully regenerate town centres and high streets.
In response, Rebecca Evans MS said the Welsh Government is working closely with local authorities, has a number of schemes in place to support town centres, and pointed to £44m being made available to councils to regenerate town centres.
Commenting after the exchange, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“Our high street and town centre businesses play a pivotal role in supporting our economy and providing jobs to local people.
“Yet the conditions they are operating in are becoming increasingly more hostile and challenging.
“We need to see the government working with key stakeholders to boost footfall in town centres, draw in investment, support our businesses, and regenerate these important areas.
“The consequences of not acting do not bear thinking about.”
