Hunts can influence Whitehall high street review

WOULD you let your readers know that there is a government website, www.bis.gov.uk/highstreet, where they can make comments or tick others’ comments on what we need to do to save the High Street – or in our case St Ives.

The website is quite badly designed, and you have to scroll down for a long time to get to the comments that have been inputted.

The more comments there are and the more people tick the comments they like the more notice the Government and Mary Portas will have to take.

My comments are under the name ‘So Cross Now’, and if your readers want to tick that they like my contribution I would be most grateful.

Contribution from So Cross Now: Business rates need a complete overhaul. After all, internet shops do not have the same overheads as local shops and do not contribute to the social tapestry that our local retail shops do.

Charity shops in our town sell new goods against local retailers, yet do not pay up to 80 per cent of business rates. They also inflate business rate tariffs by attracting landlords who can guarantee rents because rates are artificially low.

Our town markets come in with stalls that rival the permanent shops such as key-cutting, butchery, baking, take-aways.

Local shops have so much set against them we might as well all go home. Last one out put out the lights please.

JANE and RICHARD WATERS

Time for Health

Station Road

St Ives