Town Centre summit proposed

A report to Hertfordshire County Council has proposed a summit to focus on the future of high streets and town centres across the county.

The council's Environment, Transport & Growth Panel considered the report at a meeting of the cabinet panel last month, with the proposal being put forward by Cllr.John Graham (Con, Potters Bar East) and seconded by Cllr. Richard Roberts (Con, Kings Langley).

The formal proposal highlighted some of the challenges facing retail businesses:

... the pressures faced by Hertfordshire’s high streets [should] be discussed at panel and that, as a matter of urgency, a summit is called for this Autumn to bring together partners from across the County so that a plan for sustainable long-term futures can be initiated,

Since the Labour Government came to power there have been increases in National Insurance, rates, rent and, especially under Liberal Democrat district councils, increases in parking charges and in Kings Langley bizarre new charges dividing the high street, alienating shoppers.

High streets in our towns and villages are prey to money laundering, sales of illegal cigarettes and vapes, and cost pressures creating a broken window scenario that puts ever more shop keepers off investing and residents from shopping.

:: Cllr JM Graham

There have been a number of reports on the decline of UK high streets. Over the last 20 or 30 years high streets have seen significant change as the pressures and market behaviours within retail have impacted town centres. The loss of major chains left gaps in high streets that were not always filled quickly and, with the onset of online trading, the pace of change has increased. The pressures on individual high streets vary, but a number of causes are often identified, including:

• The rise of online shopping
• Changing consumer behaviour
• Economic pressues and austerity
• Business rates
• The rise of out-of-town shopping centres
• Planning policy

The impact that these factors have on towns can vary. Hertford in particular suffers from being surrounded by new towns with larger catchment areas.

Following discussion, the panel agreed to support the motion and instructed officers to proceed with planning a suitable event format, targeting  early spring next year (2026) for delivery.

The current retail vacancy rate is Hertford town centre is 14%, which drops to 11% if shops outside the town centre are included.

Recent closures include Rossi's Attic antiques in The Wash, Santander Bank in Maidenhead Street and Proove Pizza in Parliament Square.