Portas in call for national market day

TV retail expert Mary Portas, who is leading a review aimed at developing more prosperous high streets, will deliver her recommendations tomorrow, which are expected to include proposals for a national market day in a bid to promote street markets and help drive traffic towards shops.

According to reports, Portas will also recommend licensing rules for market stalls should be relaxed to make it easier for people to set up stands in their high street.

She said: “On a market stall people can try out their ideas and get their business booming without too much cost. It’s great for our town centres too, bringing in fresh ideas and products and preserving our nation’s cultural heritage.”

Richard Dodd, from the British Retail Consortium, said: “Based on what we are hearing this weekend it seems that there are a good number of sensible ideas in the report which if taken together and adopted could make a difference to many of our troubled high streets.”

Portas, the star of the BBC programme Mary Queen of Shops, is also expected to suggest regulations on high street traders are axed, including restrictions on night-time deliveries, in a bid to create a more flexible and attractive business environment. A possible tax could also be implemented on car parks at out-of-town shopping centres to encourage more customers back into town centres.

But council leaders criticised her for failing to consult with them on the review, even after they wrote directly to the retail expert to request a meeting.

Coun Peter Box, chairman of the Local Government Association economy and transport board, said: “Councils play a crucial role in growing local economies and improving high streets and need to be suitably consulted if they are to achieve this.”