The Yorkshire Post says: Debts to society '“ call for banks should pay closure levy to fund town centre improvements

ALTHOUGH the latest Budget did make an extra Â£1.5bn available to support struggling high streets, it will only amount to a short-term fix unless the Government takes more radical action.

By The Newsroom

Published 4th Nov 2018, 14:54 BST

Updated 4th Nov 2018, 15:58 BST

A photo of Filey town centre - The Yorkshire Post's Love Your High Street campaign has prompted a national policy debate.

After all, the lack of enthusiasm shown by James Brokenshire, the Cabinet minister responsible for this policy, in his latest TV interview could not be in greater contrast to the innovative suggestions being put forward by University of Sheffield graduate Luke Graham to help struggling town centres.

Luke Graham: Why banks must be made to pay for branch closures

Now a Tory MP in a rural Scottish constituency that has seen cuts to key amenities, he wants the law changed so the banks bailed out by taxpayers at the height of the financial crisis do pay a debt to society and make a £100,000 contribution to local leaders whenever they intend to close a branch. He’s fearful that “rural and small communities are being abandoned”. The worry is that Mr Brokenshire seems oblivious to this danger.