Scottish Lib Dems launch plans to revive high streets 

Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Jamie Greene has today set out his party’s plans to support Scottish high streets, as he pledged to review vape shops, improve public transport and explore a new system of business rates.

After successfully securing £178 million for the year ahead to help businesses with crushing rates rises, Scottish Liberal Democrats are now setting out a series of measures to get high streets thriving. 

These plans include: 

• Working towards a new system of business rates with a business value element to avoid penalising businesses which refurbish properties or install renewables.

• Reviewing the safety of vape shops and the risk they pose to their neighbours and local infrastructure. 

• Exempting the last bank in town from business rates.

• Making high streets safer by strengthening the Retail Crime Taskforce.

• Improving public transport to drive footfall and help staff get safely to and from work, with a special focus on the nighttime economy. 


The party would also:

• Remove barriers and incentivise people to live, work and come together on our high streets again, returning them to their place at the heart of our communities.


Jamie Greene said: 

“When people walk down a high street of boarded-up shops and empty, derelict units, they are looking at nineteen years of SNP failure. 

“Too many businesses are going bust and high streets are struggling to survive. Small businesses feel hard done by and big business is put off by red tape and an anti-business agenda in government. 

“We should be making our high streets economically successful, incentivising people to live, work and come together on them.

“In my own area in Greenock, people want to see change. They want their high street to be somewhere they can be proud of. 


“Scottish Liberal Democrat plans would deliver change with fairness at its heart and put high streets back at the beating heart of our communities. 

“If that sounds good to you, no matter where you live in Scotland, you should vote for us on your second, peach, regional ballot paper in May.”