Southport’s MP says more support must be given to regenerate town centres which he says are “structurally disincentivised by the tax regime” against retail parks.
Patrick Hurley raised the recent closure of Broadhurst’s bookshop on Mark Street in Southport, after trading for 124 years, as a reason for the Government to be concerned and take action.
While leisure and hospitality in Southport town centre are doing well, with further investment in The Grand, The Garrick and the new Wetherspoon Hotel, some retail outlets are struggling with the tax burden on them.
Beales department store on Lord Street is due to close its doors this Saturday (7th September 2024), while Gallery One on Lord Street is also due to shut.
Southport’s retail parks meanwhile are booming, with Sainsbury’s Hobbycraft and PureGym opening at Meols Cop retail park and McDonald’s, Home Bargains Caissa UK and Snap Fitness opening at Central 12 retail park, which has recently introduced free two hour parking.
Speaking in Parliament, Southport MP Patrick Hurley said: “The regeneration and refurbishment of town centres such as mine is being structurally disincentivised by the tax regime, which gives preferential treatment to new builds on out-of-town retail parks, instead of renovating our much-loved historic high streets.
“Southport’s town centre is beautiful, but has definitely seen better days. Just this weekend, our much-loved independent bookshop, Broadhurst, was closed down after over 100 years of trading.
Broadhurst’s bookshop in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“Given the dire economic circumstances we inherited from the former Government, what can the Minister do to incentivise the private sector to invest in our town centres and high streets, bringing life back to them?”
Alex Norris, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government), replied: May I say, before I answer, that I and my ministerial colleagues know my hon. Friend’s community has been through a dreadful last few weeks and that our support is with them? I know he will come forward with other ways in which we can help. We went through something similar in Nottingham and I know how dreadful it is for the community. We are here to help.
“On the tax regime, we are committed to a fairer business rate system.
Beales department store on Lord Street in Southport. Photo by Andrew Brown Stand Up For Southport
“In our manifesto, we pledged to level the playing field between the high street and online giants, as well as to incentivise investment, tackle empty properties and support entrepreneurship.
“Listening to business and communities, we will continue to consider how we can go further to support high streets, while new powers such as rental auctions and the right to buy community assets empower those communities to address decline.”
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