Local authorities across the UK are ‘accelerating the decline of the high street’ with unnecessary road closures according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).

Bira has been inundated with calls from members across the country with concern that post-lockdown accessibility issues are significantly impacting trade.

In many cases, local councils are ploughing ahead with closures, high street pedestrianisation, and the removal of car parking spaces; all essential for shoppers to reach independent shops.

As previously revealed, Bira has called on Boris Johnson to intervene and ‘reopen our high streets’. The plea follows Bira’s exclusive membership survey. Findings reveals three quarters (75%) of respondents said lockdown road closures are detrimentally impacting trade.

The poll also revealed that of those affected, 55% said trade had been impacted ‘significantly’. Meanwhile, a further 20% admitted the closures had affected trade ‘a little’.

Commenting is Andrew Goodacre, Bira’s CEO.

“It appears that many local authorities are doing their best to further accelerate the decline of their high streets with road closures and removal of car parking spaces.

“The pavements are generally not that busy and people still do not want to use public transport. The local authorities are doing a good job of supporting retail parks instead of their local business communities.”

Read more about Bira’s post-lockdown road closures campaign here.