James Frith has backed new powers to give communities greater control over high streets, arguing that local people should have a stronger say over what opens in their town centres.
The Labour MP for Bury North welcomed the Government’s latest high street reforms, saying residents in his constituency have seen too many businesses opening that communities simply do not want or need.
Frith’s intervention comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham promotes a wider package of measures aimed at reviving town centres and putting more power in the hands of local councils and communities.
Under the plans, new vape shops in England will require planning permission, while ministers are also targeting betting shops, adult gaming centres and businesses linked to illegal activity.
Writing on X, Frith said:
“For too long, businesses have opened in our communities that local people simply don’t want or need.
“This includes far too many vape shops. Empty newsagents. Dodgy shops.”
Frith has been a persistent campaigner on enforcement against illegal trading in Bury North and said the Government’s approach must combine stronger local control with a firm crackdown on criminal activity.
“I’ve made the case time and again that Bury North is closed for illegal businesses. There is zero tolerance for illegal trading practices here.”
The Labour MP argued that the reforms would give residents and councils a meaningful voice over the changing character of their high streets.
“Now, local people and local councils will have more say over what opens on our high streets and what our town centres look like.”
Frith linked the measures directly to Burnham’s wider agenda of devolving power away from Westminster and back to communities.
“That’s exactly what Andy Burnham meant when he talked about putting power back into every postcode.
“More power in the hands of local people, where it belongs.”
The Government has argued that decades of decline have left many high streets “hollowed out”, with communities often powerless to stop unwanted premises opening through existing planning rules.
Ministers say the reforms will give councils greater ability to consider whether another vape shop or betting premises is appropriate for a particular town centre, while strengthening enforcement against businesses involved in illicit trade and organised crime.
For Frith, the changes offer a practical route to addressing concerns repeatedly raised by constituents in Bury North about the mix of businesses operating on local high streets.
His backing underlines the growing support among Labour parliamentarians for Burnham’s high street agenda as the Government seeks to put communities back in control of their town centres.
