St Albans is city with lowest rate of vacant shops in country (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Findings by Local Data Company

5:40pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News By Zoe Forsey

A national survey has named St Albans as the city with the lowest level of vacant shops in the country.

The Local Data Company announced that high street vacancies in the city were at 8.2 per cent, the lowest rate for "large centres" across the county.

According to the St Albans Chamber of Commerce, Harpenden can boast an even lower percentage of just 3.8 per cent.

The chamber has welcomed the news and believes it is the small independent shops and the city itself that makes it such a successful shopping destination.

Mel Hilbrown, a director at the chamber, said: "We have traditionally had a pretty solid small shops procession in St Albans.

"One of the basics of keeping a town centre going is being more than a line of retailers that you can find anywhere else.

"Like everyone else we have been hit by the retailers who have hit problems.

"Being a cathedral city and a market town, these things encourage shoppers and it becomes more of a destination - somewhere people come for a day out rather than just to shop."

Despite the recent positive figures, St Albans MP Anne Main believes the city still has a lot to do to protect its high street.

She said: "I am pleased that St Albans’ high streets appear to be faring well in these difficult economic times. However there is no room for complacency.

"There are still many problems that businesses in St Albans are struggling with including securing loans from banks.

"We have seen shops closures recently and I hope that these units are replaced quickly.

"St Albans District Council is consulting on plans to revitalise the city centre and encourage further investment in St Albans. I support the council’s proactive approach as this low level of vacancies can still be improved upon, and I believe the council is doing everything they can to achieve this."