Ex-council leader: High Streets 'stuffed' with too many charity shops (From This Is Local London)

Ex-council leader: High Streets 'stuffed' with too many charity shops

11:10am Sunday 12th February 2012 in Where I Live By James Nadal

Princes Risborough High Street: The town is highlighted as one with too many charity shops by Cllr Colomb

A SUBSIDY Wycombe District Council gives to charity shops which excludes them from paying business rates should be withdrawn, a former Tory Leader has said.

Cllr Roger Colomb, an ex-WDC Leader, suggested removing the concession as one of many measures to promote economic regeneration, saying there were too many charity stores on high streets.

Charities enjoy an 80 per cent mandatory relief from rates, as set by the Government.

But the remaining 20 per cent is given up by WDC, meaning charity shops pay absolutely no rates.

Cllr Colomb headed a review about the economy and reporting to Cabinet on Monday night, said he believes WDC should withdraw the 20 per cent subsidy.

He believes the 'multiplicity' of charity shops is a problem across the district.

“We've got this peculiar situation where the high streets are getting stuffed with charity shops,” he told the BFP.

“They're not contributing much to the economy at all.”

He highlighted Princes Risborough, saying: “If you go onto the street off the high street, which already has many, you have more charity shops there, it's quite ludicrous.”

Cllr Colomb pointed to the fact that in empty premises landlords have to pay the national non-domestic rates.

“They're desperate for anyone to come in to offload this responsibility,” he said, adding that letting to charities solves this problem.

But he said not all of the district town centres' retail store mix is unbalanced.

He said: “It's not as bad in Marlow. Marlow High Street is fairly buoyant in retail terms, shops don't stay shut very long in Marlow.”

Cllr Colomb made the suggestion because the Government is changing the policy on rates.

However, because it is unclear how Ministers will do this, WDC's Cabinet rejected the proposal, saying it was not currently viable.

Warren Alexander, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, dismissed the idea, telling the BFP: “There's something of a myth about charity shops on the High Street.

“They represent a very small proportion of UK shops. There's a view that by restricting the number on the high street there will be a huge revival of independent stores. That's utter nonsense.

“By restricting charity shops, there'd be more empty shops.

“Charity shops are only there because they're fulfilling a need.

“Our own research demonstrates how much people like charity shops. They attract people to the high street, they increase footfall.”

The association encourages Government and councils to create diversity and supports rate relief for new independent traders.

Most charity shops would close if rate relief was withdrawn, he added.

Do you want fewer charity shops in your high street or are you a fan of the stores? Let us know your views.