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Preston has topped the list as Britain’s unhealthiest high street

Posted on - 26th March, 2015 - 7:00am | Author - | Posted in - Business, Preston City Centre, Preston Council, Preston News
Paul Melling snapped the Fishergate lights on Sunday

Fishergate looking pretty over Christmas – now ranked Britain’s unhealthiest retail area. Credit: Paul Melling

Preston High Street has topped a recent list of Britain’s unhealthiest cities and towns, in a report conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health.

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The league table which was compiled as a result of looking at several factors, including types of shop like fast food outlets and betting shops, shows Preston topping the table for having the unhealthiest high street. Blackpool isn’t far behind sitting at number four and Shrewsbury took the healthiest title at the opposite side of the scale.

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The report based its conclusions on main retail areas that either harm or support public health. It also looked at the number of retailers in the area, with Preston having 734 outlets accounted for.

It is in keeping with the Society’s Health on the High Street campaign, and are now calling for the next government to introduce measures encouraging healthier retail spots.

The report linked deprived areas in England and the city’s with the public health aspect and Preston weighed in at 41.9%. Untitled2

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Here’s a list of the top 10 on the league table:

1. Preston

2. Middlesbrough

3. Coventry

4. Blackpool

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5. Northampton

6. Wolverhampton

7. Grimsby

8. Huddersfield

9. Stoke on Trent

10. Eastbourne

Conclusions of the report has drawn that the north and midlands are more likely to carry higher concentrations of businesses on unhealthy high streets.

Councillor John Swindells – Deputy Leader of Preston City Council has commented on the findings, “There are no surprises here.  The Council has consistently campaigned against a proliferation of payday loan and betting shops opening on the High Street.  The results of this survey mirror our own concerns.  Indeed the Royal Society for Public Health is campaigning to allow local authorities greater planning powers to deal with this issue. It is something the Council, along with 92 other local authorities, has and will continue to lobby the Government for.

“It is though, not all bad news.  We are seeing a greater variety of shops, businesses, restaurants and bars opening in Preston.  This trend will grow as we and our partners continue to invest in Preston City Centre.”

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