A review on how Covid measures impacted high streets is pointless – they were already in decline

Ahead of exams at school and university, it was tempting to draw up a revision plan. I’d sit down and map out a timetable, listing the subjects and the hours to be devoted to them. Then, I’d mark them up in different colours. If I didn’t like the look of it, I’d start again.

What I was not doing, of course, was revising – that was being put off. When it came to poring over my books, precious time had been lost.

Something similar is happening with our high streets. This week saw the publication of a report by the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, calling for a full “lessons learned” review to be conducted ahead of the independent Covid-19 inquiry assessing the government's handling of the pandemic. MPs said the review should examine what impact Covid measures set by the government have had on the high street.

Lord, save us. Why do you need to waste time and resources to tell us something that has been apparent ever since lockdowns and work from home orders began? Why conduct a probe into a decline that was well in train before the virus hit and has merely been accelerating ever since?

The heart sinks. As soon as you see the phrase “lessons learned” you know this is yet another paper-pushing exercise, another excuse to put off until tomorrow what ought to be done today. In the case of our towns and city centres, we’re talking about steps that should have been taken years ago – as soon as online shopping began to grow. But here we are, now using Covid as a prop for more procrastination.

Sure, Covid exacerbated the problem on our high streets, but that is all. It does not require further scrutiny. People did not stop going to department stores because of the virus, never to return. They began quitting them when they realised it was easier and cheaper to order goods online and have them delivered straight to their door. They did not have to journey into the shops, did not have to pay for parking or public transport, then queue, only to find the items weren’t in stock or, if the products were available, lug them home.

Likewise, the same is true for all the specialist outlets that saw their trade decimated by online retail. To them too, can be added the bank branches that went because of the rise of digital banking. High streets and shopping districts were also struck hard by the move to out-of-town retail parks, where the tenants were bigger and brighter and the parking was free.

None of this had anything to do with the government’s Covid response. Where the precautions did have an effect was in encouraging more people to work from home. But this was also advancing before the arrival of Covid. Friday was already a quieter day; Mondays also emptier. Increasing numbers of office workers were compressing their office visits into the middle of the week. As indeed were MPs themselves if they only stopped to think about it – the House of Commons is deserted on Mondays and Fridays and had been for years, long before Covid. The advent of the laptop and ever-improving wifi were putting paid to the traditional five-day working week.

According to the committee’s chair, Clive Betts MP, “the Covid-19 pandemic dramatically changed our high streets almost overnight, with the pandemic accelerating existing consumer trends and introducing new ones.”

He went on to say: “The government should look at how it can support strategies which bring together local councils, business partners, and the local community in developing high streets that capitalise on local heritage and experiences and which combine a mix of uses, including retail, hospitality, green spaces, and arts and culture.

“An immediate ‘lessons learned’ review is necessary to examine the impact of the handling of the pandemic on the high street.”

But Clive, there needs to be the imposition of an online sales tax, aimed at businesses that do not have bricks and mortar stores and rely wholly upon giant depots and fleets of vans to supply their wares. They must be made to pay their dues. Ministers should also get tough on those online sellers posting sales that occur in the UK in an offshore tax haven. The balance between traditional retailing and e-commerce must be levelled. Thanks to Covid, these changes are more necessary than ever – but they were needed even before the pandemic.

Meanwhile, we need to make our town centres brighter and more appealing. Public transport links must be improved. High streets must become more of a “destination”; people should want to go there to enjoy a positive experience broader than shopping, including the arts and entertainment, and food and drink. We should realise, as well, that we have too many shops. Trying to preserve them all is not on – some must be transformed for alternative uses, such as student accommodation.

All this and more should be underway now. We do not require a review and yet more planning. If we want to save our high streets, we need to act immediately.