Retailers slam empty unit art scheme

Date: 14th April 2009

UK retailers have slammed government proposals to decorate empty premises with artistic displays.

As part of a scheme to ensure town centres remain "vibrant", communities secretary Hazel Blears has suggested that failed businesses be turned into galleries or advice centres.

But the British Retail Consortium (BRC) has poured scorn on the idea, claiming that the government should be doing more to stop companies from failing in the first place, which could include taxation cuts.

Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, said: "Art displays are not the answer for empty shops.

"We agree that vacant premises blight town centres. But contriving schemes to fill them with other uses is tackling the symptom while ignoring the cause."

He added "confidence in a community" was often a result of economically prosperous town centres and retailers.

Meanwhile, an expert from the website smallbusiness.co.uk has claimed that small companies and retailers can thrive during the recession by taking advantage of weakened competition.