Entrepreneurship News and Headlines

We Need a Fresh Vision to Save Our High Streets | Letters

Letters to the Guardian call for a radical overhaul of the UK high‑street model, arguing that tinkering with business rates, rent levels and planning cannot reverse decline. Authors propose four pillars: reforming business rates, taxing online retailers, forcing reasonable rents, and giving councils capital to buy and repurpose vacant units for community‑focused enterprises. They also stress the need for pedestrian‑friendly public spaces and better transport links to curb car‑dependency. The pieces blend economic, social and environmental arguments, urging policymakers to adopt a holistic, visionary strategy rather than incremental fixes.