Dudley councillor Adam Davies has welcomed new government measures to tackle rogue shops but insists more is needed to fully address the issue. The Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced that councils will gain powers to block applications for new vape shops and bookmakers, as well as extended powers to close rogue businesses for up to a year.
Local successes and ongoing challenges
Davies, a Conservative councillor for Brierley Hill, has been working alongside fellow councillor Wayne Little, police, and trading standards officers to shut down shops involved in criminal activity, including Grab and Go on Dudley Road. He said: "These are changes we've been pushing for quite some time alongside Trading Standards and other partners locally, so it's good to see the issue finally getting attention at a national level.
"We've already had some successes and managed to shut down a number of these dodgy shops locally, but our experience has shown just how difficult it can be to deal with some of these premises. Because enforcement action has to be evidence-led, it often takes a frustratingly long period of time – so anything that helps prevent these rogue businesses from becoming established in the first place is a step in the right direction."
Stronger enforcement powers sought
Davies also highlighted that Dudley Trading Standards recently contributed to a Home Office consultation on extending closure orders from six months to twelve months. The new measures include requiring planning permission for vape shops and tightening the definition of a vape shop to prevent businesses from circumventing the rules by claiming to be general convenience stores or retailers. Additionally, the 'aim to permit' rule, which currently stops councils from blocking 24-hour slot machine premises and betting shops, will be revoked.
Burnham said: "For many people, the high streets they grew up with have been hollowed out and become unrecognisable over decades of decline. The rise of vape shops, betting shops and rogue operators have replaced the shops, services, and community spaces that people are crying out for."
Call for broader high street regeneration
Davies believes the government must do more to regenerate high streets. He added: "The government needs to make it easier for legitimate businesses to succeed. One way of helping businesses would be to abolish business rates for high street shops, pubs and other retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, as the Conservatives have put forward. Otherwise, there is a danger that one problem is simply replaced by another in the form of more empty units.
"We want criminal fronts cleared out of our high streets, but the aim also has to be thriving town centres with a wider mix of shops, services and independent businesses that residents actually want to visit and support."
