South Yorkshire mayor welcomes crackdown on dodgy high street shops
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has welcomed government action to tackle the spread of rogue businesses on high streets.
The government has pledged to give councils new powers to check the spread of businesses that are said to be “hollowing out” high streets.
New vape shops, betting shops and adult gaming centres would need planning permission to open. The Gambling Act will also be tightened up to provide extra regulation.
Closure orders for suspected dodgy high street premises thought to be linked to organised crime will double in length from six to 12 months, to give police and local authorities more time to investigate them.
Mayor Coppard said: “When people tell me what they want for South Yorkshire, they talk about the places at the heart of our communities, the high streets and our town and city centres where we shop, work and spend time together.
“People want to feel proud of those places, and they want more of a voice in how they change and grow.
Unrecognisable
“I welcome these new powers, which will help councils shape high streets reflecting the needs and ambitions of our communities. I’m also pleased to see more powers to tackle the criminals who exploit our high streets and make life harder for the businesses who play by the rules.
“Giving us more influence over the future of our neighbourhoods is an important part of bringing more life, more opportunity and more pride back into our town and city centres.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said in announcing the measures: “For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services and community spaces that people are crying out for.
“That’s not on. I said we would improve Britain’s high streets, and that’s exactly what we are starting to do. We’re putting communities back in control and giving local people a real say over what opens on their high street.
“Local councils will be given the powers they need to rein in unwanted shops and bring town centres back to life.”