Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, has learnt that the Welsh Government has delayed its campaign to support Welsh high streets again, something which he has branded as ‘unacceptable.’
The Welsh Government had pledged in its ‘Vibrant and Viable Places’ strategy to launch a campaign in June 2013 urging people to support the Welsh high streets. It has now emerged that this campaign has been delayed again – to autumn 2014.
Commenting on this announcement, Mr George said:
“Responding to the launch of ambitious Welsh Conservative proposals to revitalise the Welsh high street in 2012, Welsh Ministers pledged to launch a campaign to support Welsh high streets.
“Nearly 18 months on, it is now evident that Ministers are still dithering and have now delayed their campaign, which was scheduled for June 2013, until the end of 2014.
“We’ve just had the busiest shopping season of the year, which could have been an ideal time to run a bespoke shop local campaign for Wales, yet Carwyn Jones and his Government seem to have been sat on their hands; it’s unacceptable.
“People in Montgomeryshire know only too well that our high streets are in desperate need of support through business rate reform, measures to bring empty premises back into use and moves to make it easier for people to shop locally.
“Wales has the highest vacancy rate in the UK, so Welsh Ministers must act to support our high streets or risk the once bustling community hubs dying out.”
