MPS UNITE TO COMBAT THE CLONE TOWNS

BY SEAN POULTER

229 words

Publication date: 20 January 2007

Source: Daily Mail

(c) 2007 Associated Newspapers. All rights reserved

POLITICIANS from all parties are backing plans which could help save the traditional High Street by stopping the big retail chains creating 'Clone Towns' with their huge stores.

The measures would see planning powers and spending devolved from Whitehall to local communities. They are contained in the Sustainable Communities Bill, a private member's measure backed by the Tories, LibDems and many Labour MPs. Tory MP Nick Hurd told the Commons yesterday that many towns and villages feel 'the guts of their communities have been ripped out'. He warned that local shopping parades are 'struggling with the challenge of big uniform warehouses squatting on a ring road choked with traffic'.

Mr Hurd said MPs backing the Bill 'have a common concern about what appears to be remorseless community decline and what that means for quality of life.' The Bill would ensure local people have the final say over key issues rather than being overruled by Whitehall, quangos or the courts.

Councils would also be allowed to stop national chains from opening in their area if they felt it would force valued independent retailers out of business.

The Bill coincides with an investigation into the power of supermarkets. There is speculation the Competition Commission, will try to curb Tesco's growth by forcing it to sell off development sites.

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