Darren and Karen Bloomfield, from Gateshead, call on the government to invest in the high street.
In the run-up to the general election, the BBC is looking at the issues that matter the most to you, as part ofOne issue that matters to Darren and Karen Bloomfield, from Gateshead, is the state of their local high street.Mr Bloomfield, 59, has fond memories of his childhood in the town, which would be spent at Littlewoods cafe with his mam, full of "coffee, cake and chat".He wants to see improvements and investment in the high street and to make it "attractive again".
"It’s just a route into Newcastle, so what I would like is some investment to make it back into a high street."Most retailers are based in and around Trinity Square, which backs onto Gateshead High Street, and houses a Tesco and cinema.The council has previously said "many millions" had been invested into the area.
In their manifesto, the Conservatives say they want to change planning laws to support places to bring back local market days and regenerate defunct shopping centres. It also pledged a business rates support package worth £4.3bn over the next five years to support small businesses and the high street
The Liberal Democrats say they will abolish business rates, and instead make landlords pay a levy on their buildings "to help our high streets"
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