A league table of Britain’s unhealthiest high streets has found towns in the North and Midlands are more likely to have businesses that harm public wellbeing.
The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) today claimed Preston holds the highest number of firms that have a negative impact on local health such as tanning salons, payday loan shops and fast food outlets, followed closely by Middlesbrough and Coventry.
Council leaders said the figures reflected the importance of handing town halls stronger powers over planning and licensing.
Over 2,000 experts and members of the public were polled on the extent to which regional businesses encouraged healthy choices, provide access to health education and promote positive mental wellbeing.
Findings suggest Shrewsbury has the country’s healthiest retail area, with Ayr in Scotland coming second and Salisbury in Wiltshire claiming the third spot.
Deputy leader of Preston City Council, Cllr John Swindells, said the findings held ‘no surprises’ for the town hall, with local councillors having ‘consistently campaigned against a proliferation of payday loan and betting shops opening on the high street’.
Cllr Izzi Seccombe, chair of the Local Government Association’s community wellbeing board, said: ‘Local authorities are hamstrung by the current planning and licensing systems, under which councils have extremely limited powers to refuse openings, even in places that are already saturated with certain types of businesses.
‘In addition to powers to tackle nuisance premises, councils are calling for further initiatives to give local high streets a shot in the arm. These include a greater emphasis on entertainment and leisure facilities, such as sports clubs, the means to takeover empty shops, more powers over local transport, and less unnecessary red tape.’
RSPH chief executive, Shirley Cramer, called for councils to be granted ‘enhanced powers to create a rich mix of health promoting businesses on our high streets and encouraging businesses to promote healthy choices’.
