Speaking up for Poole High Street

Poole needs places where tourists can buy an ice cream, have a meal, or enjoy a drink. Poole won’t be Poole if our high street is hollowed out with valuable small businesses priced out.

The Labour Government is supporting local families through the Great British Summer Savings deal. I’m encouraging my constituents - and anyone visiting Poole - to take advantage of the tax cut on family‑friendly activities, making it cheaper to take the kids to the cinema, theme parks, zoos, restaurants or shows.

We need to build on this to support tourism in Poole well beyond the summer months. One major step the Government could take is business rates relief for bricks‑and‑mortar stores, the cornerstone of our economy and the heart of thriving high streets. This could be funded through higher levies on big tech firms. While big tech posts huge profits, our communities are left with a lingering sense of decline.

There’s a lot of talk in Westminster about “economic growth”, but those words won’t mean much if high streets are boarded up or ice‑cream parlours replaced with vape shops.

I’m asking the Government to back our high streets so growth = regeneration for towns like Poole.

See my letter to the Minister below.