Huge shot in the arm for our High Streets

One of the most important features of our vast rural constituency is our high streets. They lie at the heart of our communities. Over many years I have worked to do whatever I can to protect them whether supporting local community shops, campaigning against the post office closures of the last Labour government or pushing for reductions in local business tax burdens.

Last year, as the Treasury Minister responsible for UK taxation I took legislation through parliament to reduce future business rates rises which will save business £2.3 billion. Now as part of this Autumn’s budget we will cut business rates for the majority of local traders (those with a rateable value of below £51,000) - by a third and for the 2 years in the run up to the next rates revaluation. A pub with a rateable value of say £37,750 will save £6,178 and a newsagent with a rateable value of £14,250 will save £1,749. These savings will go straight to supporting business profitability making them more sustainable.

Whilst keeping down business rates is important it will not on its own ensure that high streets thrive. The way we shop is changing with 18% of our purchases now online and this figure is growing rapidly. So as well as lowering taxes on our businesses we need to see high streets reinvent themselves.

Some are just too long and strung out, pocketed with disused units. So we need to look at freeing up the planning system so that unviable retail shops can be converted into accommodation or commercial offices. So we have just announced that we will be launching a Future High Streets Fund which will provide funding for changes to local infrastructure which can facilitate additional visitors to town centres.

In addition we are setting up a High Streets Task Force to ensure that local communities are able to share their ideas. In formulating these ideas I have been grateful to a range of stakeholders, not least the Federation of Small Businesses and the British Retail Consortium all of whom have spent time with me to work up the best way forward.

Locally, along with the local FSB I have benefitted from the on going support of Stuart Rogers at Ashburton Post Office whose energy and ideas have helped inform and shape the plans that are now being taken forward.

Politics as they say is the art of the possible. As an MP and as a minister you have to be focused on a small number of key areas if you are to make a difference. High Streets has been one of my passions for many years – I believe in them as I believe in our communities, in the beauty that is Devon and the gentle decency of her people. I hope that this package with its huge tax break for local businesses delivers hope and growth for our high streets and our local communities alike. More from Mel on Twitter @MelJStride and online www.melstridemp.com

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