The W.I is a non-political organisation, meaning we have no affiliation to any political party. This enables us as a group to campaign on many different subjects and talk to all parties on a very level playing field.

Every year, at our National AGM we vote on our resolution and decide to put the might of women everywhere behind it and work with all parties to try and change Britain for the better. One of the short listed Resolutions for this year is the decline of our high streets and town centres.

The W.I has noted concern the continuing decline of the High Street and the damaging effect this has on local communities. We are calling on all our members to support their local, independent shops, and calling on the decision-makers to work collectively to help end the decline of the High Street and help them flourish and provide a focal point for local communities.

This is a subject close to the heart of Salford Angels. Walking around many parts of this wonderful City, you can see the decline of the high street taking place right before you. Once thriving local community hubs have all but disappeared, and where shopping areas with independent traders still exists, like Monton, Irlams o’th’ Heights and Cadishead, the vast majority of these small retailers are takeaway food outlets or nail bars. This is a national trend, in 2011, the most common types of independent shops opening were off licences, pet shops, clothing stores, pound shops, nail bars and charity shops. While there was a decline of florists, menswear, toy and sports shops.

The average vacancy rate for centres with over 400 shops is 17.2%. Rates peak at 30% in Stockport and over 25% in Nottingham, Grimsby and Blackpool.

Governments are trying to reverse this trend. Town Centres First was a policy developed in the mid 90’s to make sure the town centres were recognised at the core of planning policies and decisions. Grant Shapps, former Local Government Minister said “The best local high streets offer more than simply shopping – they are the beating heart of their neighbourhoods: places to meet, work, relax and come together as a community.”

More recently Mary Portas looked at ways to reinvigorate our High Streets and generate investment and involved a governmental pot of money for town centres to bid for. Eccles made a bid, but unfortunately lost out, but this doesn’t mean we should give up.

Many of our high streets are trying to revive their fortunes using Farmers Markets and Craft Fairs, Community spaces and pop-up artisan producers events. The W.I hopes that all it’s members and the public in general will support all these and try and bring life back to town centres. Because, once you’ve lost something, it’s very difficult to bring it back.