Why it’s hard to see a future for high street shopping - Yorkshire Post letters

High Street shopping is definitely in decline as confirmed by the footfall figures.

It is pointless for MPs such as Yvette Cooper and others to suggest the high streets can be revived.

High streets in Yorkshire and the North have more empty shops than rest of the UK

With the arrival of internet shopping, retail parks and shopping outlets, etc, there is little chance for high street traders to compete.

Independent traders in Leeds city centre confirm that is the reason for the decline in footfall despite the beliefs of Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake.

Other significant reasons are likely to include extortionately high business rates set by greedy councils coupled with the same level of greedy property owner rents.

The small independent trader cannot compete when taking into account business rates/rents and competition, even though in many cases they provide a more personal service.

What I would do to revive our struggling high streets and town centres in Yorkshire – Jayne Dowle

There have been many reports published in our Yorkshire newspapers referring to the demise of high street shopping and the situation is no different now than when first highlighted.

Whilst Leeds has a vibrant social scene, high street shopping as people knew it is simply going down the route of being part of history.