BCSC worried about lack of local council action

Author: Ashley Curtis - 30 November 2012

The British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) believes local councils which are tight on cash are not delivering on promises to improve town centres, as laid out by the government.

As a result, the humble British high street may "reach crisis point" if action is not taken, reports propertyweek.com.

The government's 'Town Centres First' initiative, implemented in 1996 and continued by the coalition, gives local councils new powers to determine and influence what happens in their town centre area. However, town centre investment is not being delivered.

Furthermore, the BCSC notes the well intentioned government policy is not being consistently adopted nationwide. This means high street improvements, such as installing steel benches or rejuvenating high-street stores for example, are not being delivered.

Michael Green, BCSC CEO, admitted to retailgazette.co.uk more needs to be done.

He said: "After the significant government support for and media interest in the Portas Review, it is becoming a thing of political history before the recommendations have been implemented. As the industry battles to save Britain's town centres, their demise is dropping swiftly off the government's radar.

"Policy may have been formulated, but research shows that it is not being implemented on the ground, and what use is a policy that is not adopted, particularly one so critical to the health of our towns and cities?"