High Street Saturday will take place on the 16th March. It is a new campaign day and aims to celebrate the place of high streets at the heart of communities like Daventry across the country. As part of the day, local people are being encouraged to:
- Pledge to shop locally on High Street Saturday
- Share photos and messages online using #HighStreetSaturday
- Encourage local councils to make good use of the Future High Street Fund, provided by the Government to make high streets and town centres fit for the future.
High streets have long been a place to bring communities together, a place for local people to access vital services and a place for businesses to thrive. But, the Government recognises that it is becoming harder for businesses on high streets across the country to compete with out-of-town shopping centres and online retailers. That’s why the Conservatives in government have:
- Delivered over £10 billion of business rates support since 2016, including cutting small retailers’ bills by a third.
- Backed community leaders with £675 million of funding to help modernise their high streets and town centres.
- Relaxed planning rules to support new homes on the high street, transforming them into community hubs where people work, live and shop.
High Street Saturday is a chance for local people to come together to celebrate and support the high streets at the heart of their local communities.
High streets like Daventry’s are instrumental in bringing people together – acting as a meeting place for friends and families and long supporting jobs for local people.
But, as the retail market changes, I am encouraging people across my constituency to join me and Conservatives across the country on 16 March in pledging to shop locally to support the independent businesses we all know and love.
The Government are determined to support our high streets by taking action on business rates, supporting high streets to modernise and helping to transform empty shops into new homes.