News 05.04.12


Praise for Portas-Plus, but is more needed?


THE GOVERNMENT’S plans to revitalise the high street do not go far enough, say some travel agents who have called on more to be done. Housing minister Grant Shapps has confirmed that the government has accepted most of Mary Portas’s recommendations and is also planning to introduce some of its own ideas too.


Labelling the scheme “Portas-


Plus”, Shapps said there would be another round of Portas Pilots in addition to the first 12. He also said there would be a multi-million pound High Street Innovation Fund, which could see as much as £30 million being given to support new business start-ups, as well as a National Markets Fortnight, to celebrate the role markets can play. However, some agents feel that the schemes do not go far enough. Nick Lee, owner of Broadland


Travel in North Walsham, Norfolk, said: “It’s good that they’re taking most of her recommendations into account. “I’m pleased that something is happening but it’s almost too little too late.


WHAT’S BEEN ACHIEVED SO FAR? Our campaign is based around three key points: parking; rent and rates relief; and the creation of local loyalty schemes to encourage people to shop locally. This is what the government says it plans to do on these points: Rates: It will double the level of small business rate relief in England for two and a half years. This will be done by removing the legal requirement for businesses to submit an application form; giving them the option to spread the rate increase over three


08 05.04.2012


years; and allowing councils to fund local business rates discounts as they see fit. Parking: It will consult on proposals to abolish the centrally-set minimum parking penalty charges. This allows councils the flexibility to levy parking penalty notices at a lower rate if they choose. It added it would “ensure transparency on parking charges”. Local market scheme: A “Love Your Local Market” fortnight will run from June 23-July 8 to highlight National Market Day on June 23 and to encourage people to shop locally.


“£30 million is a small amount of money when you divide it among towns, and I’m worried that the money is going to get lost in reports.”


Niall Douglas, managing director of Full Circle Travel, believes that the best way to reinvigorate towns is by involving the entire local community. “I don’t think there’s enough consultation with existing local businesses about businesses coming in,” Douglas said. The plans have drawn criticism from the wider retail industry as well. Tom Ironside, director of business at the British Retail Consortium, said: “Bolder


Backing our British high streets


£30m moves that could


have made a significant difference are missing,


particularly in the light of the


extra £350 million retailers will have to find because of this year’s business rates rise.”


What can you do?


Go to ttgdigital.com/trust now and: ■ Sign our charter ■ Lobby your local MP with our special template letter ■ Let us know what you are doing – email: trustintravelagents@ttgdigital.com


“How should the money be spent on revitalising the high street?”


NIALL DOUGLAS Managing director, Full Circle Travel “Money can help with local promotions and


events but you’ve got to start from the core. In Northern Ireland they’ve introduced the ‘Tesco Tax’, which should be looked at in this country.” [This is a re-evaluation of


rates on commercial premises with a rateable value of more than £500,000].


NICHOLAS


HARDING-MCKAY Managing director, Travel Designers “£30 million is not


nearly enough, and there needs to be a lot more coordination, but it is a step in the right direction I suppose. There are a lot of things that could be done by local councils now, that wouldn’t cost a lot – for example, the introduction of free car parking days to stop shoppers paying through the nose to park their cars.”


KRISTINA HULME Managing partner, Travel By Design “We would like more


What else is planned? ■ More Town Teams are due to be created, bringing the total to 24, which will look at encouraging more evening and night-time economy activity. ■ £500,000 will go to helping Business Improvement Districts access loans for set-up costs. ■ A High Street Innovation Fund will give £10 million for local councils. ■ A £1 million Future High Street X-fund will reward areas that deliver the best results.


money for parking because we like to meet people. We want people to come in – we don’t like doing it on the phone or over the internet.”


NICK LEE Owner of Broadland Travel “I’m happy that the government has


decided to back Mary Portas [but] I think it’s not enough, they need to be doing more and quicker. [There is] very little communication between the two parties – businesses and government at local level.”


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