Parliament To Debate Future Of Nation's Town Centres

The future of town centres and high streets will be debated in Parliament on Tuesday 17 January after publication of the Mary Portas Review last month and  mounting evidence that underlines the increasingly difficult state of the UK’s retail economy.

The debate follows a well-attended meeting of the All-party Parliamentary Group for Town Centres held before Christmas which discussed the issues raised by her review and comments from organisations including the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) calling for sweeping changes to business rates, car parking policies, planning and property law.

The ATCM’s 10-point Manifesto for Town Centres and High Streets has just been published and is available at www.atcm.org.

Some local authorities and parish councils across Britain are already responding to the report with efforts to keep town centre managers in post, limit town centre car parking prices, and offer more opportunities for local markets.

The debate, in the main chamber of the House of Commons, is open to the public and will be broadcast live on www.parliamentlive.tv. 

MPs Mr Marcus Jones, Stephen Lloyd, Justin Tomlinson, Sir Bob Russell, Jim Dowd and Mr Philip Hollobone will lead on the debate, which begins after questions and any statements (earliest 3.30pm) and finishes at 10pm.