Worried traders call for 'High Streets emergency'

Councillor Chris Leaman wants to see more support for small businesses

Politicians say a "High Streets emergency" should be declared in a county after what business owners described as their "toughest year yet".

One of them, Emma Holland-Lindsay, will tell a Central Bedfordshire meeting on Thursday that "too many of our town centres are struggling".

She is calling for a town centres action plan and for the council leader to write to the Chancellor about the challenges facing high streets.

Central Bedfordshire Council said it had been forced to "scale back" some of its work on town centres but remained committed to supporting them.

Heni Cloake, who runs a refill shop, says this year has been very tough

Heni Cloake from The Refill in Leighton Buzzard, where customers fill their own containers with products, said: "This year has been definitely the toughest for us from April downwards - people are really counting their pennies."

She said a spate of break-ins had made life difficult for independent shops and support in areas like security would be welcome, although she added the council had provided "really helpful" training for small businesses.

Sarah Prudames' shop has had a difficult year but her new escape room is doing well

In her shop, Sarah Prudames agreed: "It's very quiet at the moment, not a lot of footfall."

She also owns an escape room in the same building which is bucking the trend and "doing well" just four months after opening.

Caroline Gates from Room Number Nine believes the "wrong businesses" are coming to the town

Caroline Gates from Room Number Nine, which sells clothing and gifts, believed the mix of High Street shops was a problem: "I think the wrong businesses are coming into town, and I think there should be more independents.

"It's all hairdressers, nail bars, betting shops, and there is a place for some of them, but not as many as we've got."

A motion to Thursday's full council from Liberal Democrat councillor, Emma Holland-Lindsay, states the loss of banking facilities and High Street stores, coupled with rising rents and business rates, have left "too many of our High Streets struggling".

She wants to see a "regeneration-first culture" across the council, along with an action plan to set out ways the council will support businesses, community groups and cultural activities.

The vacant Wilko stores in Leighton Buzzard has become an arts centre

Her fellow Leighton Linslade councillor, Chris Leaman, highlighted the old Wilko store in Leighton Buzzard as a good example of what can be done with empty high street shops.

He said: "It has been used as a 'meanwhile' space by a group called CultureCo, a group of artists [who are] using the space, putting on exhibitions, putting on events, drawing people through."

Steve Watkins, Central Bedfordshire Council's executive member for business, said: "We welcome this conversation and remain committed to working with our partners, including the police, town councils and local businesses, so we can coordinate support.

"We continue to support our towns through funding such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

"Like many local authorities, we have had to scale back some of the work we would previously have delivered because of financial pressures. We have written to the government to call for further business rate relief and will continue to make that case."