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  There is little that can be done at local level in respect of business rates, however the rent issue could be addressed by landlords such as Municipal Charities and DDC.
  
  As for moving shops down to the town centre, that is fine but how would you achieve this?
  What compensation would you pay for the cost of refitting shops to meet the individual retailers requirements?
  What do you do for those pensioners who rely on these local shops and do not want to trudge down into town?
  What about encouraging the sort of individual and quirky retailers that Bern referred to? would they really fit in a conventional high street environment? Would they be prepared to meet high street rents?
  
  I know (as I was one of the co-authors) that the LRCF Action Plan clearly addresses some of the issues that you raise about the Charlton Centre, attracting footfall to London Road etc. Those of you who want to move retailing to the town centre (or in the case of the Council Officers to Whitfield and beyond) should talk to the local activists and reps for the areas you want to denude of shops so that you really understand the local issues.

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