BORIS Johnson will today step up his campaign to become Britain’s next prime minister by unveiling a package of measures designed to save struggling high streets across the country.
Boris Johnson to reveal plan to save city and town-centre shopsIn a series of new business policy pledges, the Tory leadership contender will set out a plan for the Government to help hard-pressed city and town-centre shops fight back against the online giants. The former foreign secretary will propose scrapping business rates on free-to-use cash machines to ensure shoppers can withdraw money as well as an overhaul of planning laws to sweep away the red tape involved in opening new retail outlets. He will also call for the immediate unlocking of a £675million Government fund earmarked for sprucing up high streets around Britain.
Mr Johnson said: “High Streets are a vital part of British life, but they are coming under increasing pressure from the rise of online shopping – especially in the more rural areas.
“We need a bold vision to rejuvenate our High Streets, and to make sure that they remain places where people want to go, meet and spend their money.
‘When we leave the European Union on 31 October, we can make these bold changes we make these bold changes.
“The high street is the heart of many towns across the country, a place for people to come together and support local business.
“This is an extremely exciting opportunity to revive our communities, and we should grab it with both hands.”
Mr Johnson believes far more needs to be done to help traditional shops compete against online retail giants like Amazon.
Government figures show that online shopping has soared from less than 1% of retail sales in 2000 to nearly a fifth last year.
The Tory leadership contender wants a range of bureaucratic and legal barriers to business to be swept away to allow high-street shops to flourish.
Mr Johnson believes traditional shops need help to compete against online retail giantsIn particular, he wants to overhaul town and country planning laws that mean converting one form of premises – such as a shop, cafe, pub or hot-food takeaway – to another can be a lengthy process.
As a result, many shops can be left empty for months or even years.
One option being considered by Mr Johnson’s team is introducing a new “A” class business category covering shops, financial and professional services, restaurants and cafes. The measure would allow existing shops to easily offer additional services.
Mr Johnson also wants to curb the closure of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) that has followed the surge in contactless payments.
With many banks and Post Office branches also closed, he fears many shoppers who prefer to pay using cash face increasing difficulties in making withdrawals.
The Federation of Small Business has pointed out that 54% of consumers in rural areas would not be able to access cash easily if their nearest ATM was to close.
Credit: Macer Hall, express.co.uk
