RED Wall Tories are demanding Boris Johnson stops “dithering” and backs a ten-point plan to save Britain’s high streets with a “post-pandemic boom”.
The Northern Research Group of 50 MPs wants free parking for shoppers to help lure them away from large malls and online and back to town centres.
New shops should pay no business rates for a year, they say, and a “shop local” discount card should go UK-wide.
Ministers should also axe planning red tape so the al fresco dining evolution ushered in by Covid stays for ever.
NRG chair Jake Berry said: “The high street is the beating heart of every community and is the original social network.
“The Government must release high street businesses from the shackles of regulation and remove the barriers that prevent many from shopping locally.
“For too long issues such as high parking charge costs have driven people away from local businesses to large shopping centres or online. It’s time we levelled the playing field to level up our high streets.
“Our plan for the high streets tears down the barriers and blows away the cobwebs to unlock the true potential of our town and city centres to have a post-pandemic bloom.”
