00:00 Yeah, I mean I think the high street stays are numbered really. I think it's inevitable
00:06 with everything moving more and more online. I think it's a real pity because there's a
00:10 social aspect to the high street and I think we'll lose that.
00:14 Parking needs to be better and cheaper or better public transport, people getting in
00:18 and out, maybe lower the business rates.
00:21 We've sent our camera teams out across the country to discuss the state of Britain's
00:26 high streets. It's a pretty grim picture for traditional retail at the moment as footfall
00:31 sharply declined in December 2023, dropping 5% year on year. That's a significant contrast
00:39 to November's 0.7% decrease. High street footfall decreased by 4.2% worsening from November's
00:47 1.7% drop, while shopping centres experienced a significant 7.4% year on year decline compared
00:55 to 2.2% in November. That's according to the British retail consortium Sensomatic IQ.
01:03 More now from people on the situation in their part of the world.
01:07 Yeah, Newport's quite bad at the moment I think. You know, they've done all of Friar's
01:11 Walk but as soon as Debenhams went, it all sort of went really.
01:16 I probably would prefer to shop online, although it can be hard sometimes with like sizing
01:23 and stuff.
01:24 I do shop online so it sounds hypocritical but high streets, the government should do
01:29 more to promote the regeneration of high street shops.
01:33 You've got rents as well, they're charging a lot of the rents of any day.
01:38 I don't think there's anything you can do is there? Because everything's online now
01:42 isn't it?
01:43 A lot of people say well, when they get something online, they have to send it back because
01:50 it's not quite, doesn't quite fit. If you go in the shop, you can try it on. It just
01:55 makes so much sense to me to go and, you know, keep the shops open.
02:00 I prefer shopping in person. It's cheaper. And if you buy something that you're not sure
02:07 of, it's easier to send it. You bring it in and get a refund.
02:13 Too many vacant properties and I think landlords and councils should come together, right,
02:21 to bring more small businesses into these premises and maybe give them help with the
02:26 rent and the rates.
02:27 I know it is across the board but it's just a shame Newport used to be such a bumping
02:32 place to be and yet now it's the ugly sister between Cardiff and Bristol.
02:37 The British Retail Consortium, who represent the majority of British store groups, have
02:41 called on the government to rethink business rates, which they say put pressure on retail
02:46 prices as well as block new investment in our town and city centres.
02:50 In response, the Treasury have said we have backed our businesses by taking one third
02:54 of properties out of paying business rates altogether.
02:57 Well, despite this move, the decline on our high street continues as many shoppers now
03:02 make their purchases online.
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