Lib Dem plans for vibrant local high streets announced

5.44.00pm GMT Mon 22nd Feb 2010

Nick Clegg with local Lib Dem candidate Stephen Robinson

The Liberal Democrats have set out plans that would keep Chelmsford's High Street and neighbourhood parades thriving, and Leader Nick Clegg stated that high streets are an essential part of the local community. Nick Clegg said: "Twelve thousand independent shops closed in 2009 alone. This is an economic tragedy as well as a social one, as high streets lose their individual distinctiveness."

"The Liberal Democrat vision is to stop this decline and rebuild vibrant local high streets. This requires a level playing field that allows small and big business to flourish alongside each other."

The Liberal Democrat plans include:

• Ensuring a long term future for the Post office by developing new services such as Postbank

• Direct help for businesses by reforming business rates, reducing employment taxes as soon as possible and cutting red tape

• Providing fair access to credit by getting the banks to lend again and creating a more diverse financial infrastructure

• Creating a fairer marketplace by ensuring sustainable retail development and taking a more localised approach to competition.

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Read more about "Vibrant Local High Streets".