FSB warns of threat to Scottish town centres

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has compiled a list of 98 towns and cities across Scotland which have recently seen services such as bank branches, Sheriff Courts, Crown Post Offices and Police Counters closed down.
 
The FSB warns that these closures pose a direct threat to the efforts to revitalise Scotland’s high streets and rejuvenate local economies.
 
In the Borders alone, 11 town centres were highlighted as under threat due to local closures.
 
Local MSP, John Lamont has urged the Scottish Government to take heed of the warning, and start providing more financial help to town centres in the Borders area and elsewhere in Scotland.
 
“Many towns in the Borders have been hit with the closure of important local services in recent months, and this has undoubtedly had a negative impact on their local economies.

“Whether it’s the closure of a local bank branch, or the SNP’s closure of Police Counters and Sheriff Courts, they have all restricted the number of jobs and visitors in our town centres.

“When we should be trying to do everything we can to rejuvenate our highs streets, these closures are counteracting a lot of the good work that has been achieved. It is no wonder that the FSB have chosen to voice their concerns as well, as many of the small businesses they represent will be under increased danger of closing if something is not done to boost these local economies.”
 
Mr Lamont says the ball is now firmly in the court of the SNP Government to respond to these concerns and formulate a plan to breathe new life into small high street businesses in Scotland.
 
“It is now up to the SNP Government to listen to these concerns and take action to save our towns.
 
“We cannot afford to see the economies of these towns suffer any more, but without further investment from Holyrood we face seeing more significant closures in years to come.”

Date published 24 Jun 2014 | Last updated 24 Jun 2014