Grimsby has the UK’s unhealthiest high street, public health specialists say today.
A new assessment cites the growth in vaping shops as a positive factor – but warns of the spread of off licences.
Grimsby is followed by Walsall, Blackpool, Stoke and Sunderland in the assessment by the Royal Society of Public Health. Northampton is the sixth unhealthiest.
In contrast Edinburgh, Canterbury and Taunton are credited with having the healthiest high streets.
The society backs calls for more support for high street retailers to enable them to compete with on-line businesses.
It warns that the most deprived towns now have five times as many fast food shops as the wealthiest – with a total increase of 4,000 in three years.
Chief executive Shirley Cramer said: “Our Health on the High Street rankings illustrate how unhealthy businesses concentrate in areas which already experience higher levels of deprivation, obesity and lower life expectancy.
“Reshaping these high streets to be more health-promoting could serve as a tool to help redress this imbalance.”
The findings were backed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
Dr Max Davie, from the college, said: “Families must have access to nutritious and affordable food so councils need to ensure high streets are not littered with junk food – especially those close to schools and colleges. They must also ensure there are safe spaces for families to be active.”
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