Calls to cap number of charity shops

Charity shop

A suggestion to cap the number of charity shops on the high street has been met with an angry reaction from some charity shops – but is it time a limit was introduced?

Reporting to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Town Centres, Mary Portas, best known for her show ‘Queen of Shops’, suggested that the number of charity shops on the high street should be capped.

In Rochdale town centre, on Yorkshire Street alone there are several charity shops including the British Heart Foundation, Springhill Hospice, the YMCA and Scope.

Ms Portas’ calls have been backed by Rochdale’s MP Simon Danczuk. Speaking to Radio 5 Live, Mr Danczuk said there is an “over domination” of charity shops in Rochdale. He added that whilst the charity shops were good there should be “diversity” on the high street.

Paul Turner Mitchell, Director of town centre independent store, 25 Ten Boutique, said he is in favour of the cap.

He said: “The vast majority of local authorities won’t need to impose the cap because in the vast majority of high streets the cap is not needed. But in Rochdale, if you look between the Exchange and the Wheatsheaf there’s seven charity shops, that is the main shopping area.”

Mr Turner-Mitchell said the problem comes from perception and the image in Rochdale is the “proliferation” of charity shops.

He praised the work of charity shops and said there is a place for them everywhere but that the council has to be able to say “enough is enough” when there’s too many.

Charity shops only have to pay 20 per cent of the business rates, and Mr Turner-Mitchell says this means there isn’t a level playing field for other businesses looking to set up in the town.

Debbie O’Brien, Chief Executive of Rochdale Town Centre Management, said: "Rochdale town centre is unfortunately no different to other high streets in this current climate where charity shops are plentiful.  It could be said that without the charity shops there would be a greater amount of vacant units and so the high street would be in even greater decline.  It’s important to recognise that the rate relief given to charity shops sets  an uneven playing field to other businesses and gives them an unfair advantage.

“There will always be a place for charity shops in town centres and we should recognise their value , however this should not be on a main shopping street for the health of the town centre.”

Wendy Mitchell, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at the Charity Retail Association, which represents hundreds of charities, said: “The problems on the high street are nothing to do with charity shops.

“In fact, charity shops are often occupying premises which would otherwise be empty – so any cap on the number of charity shops is likely to increase the number of empty shop fronts.”

Paul Fenton who works full time at the British Heart Foundation shop on Yorkshire Street, said: “I don’t think there’s too many. They are all for a good cause.”

A volunteer from the Springhill Hospice shop on Yorkshire Street who didn’t want to be named, said: “I don’t think there are too many charity shops in Rochdale, especially if you compare here with other towns and we are a very busy shop.”

We asked fans of our Facebook page if they think there are too many charity shops in Rochdale.

So far, 21 people said they think there are too many and 6 disagreed.

Darren Eves, expressed his view: “It's not just the number! The prices charged are ridiculous; they are close to the new prices. Part of the idea of a charity shop is to help people who can’t afford things buy them second hand and to make a profit towards the charity. Too many charities nowadays put 90 per cent of income towards wages and only a small fraction ends up working for the charitable cause!”

Rachael Bennion, added: “It wouldn’t be a problem if half of the shops in Rochdale weren’t empty.”

What do you think? Take part in our poll here:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/rochdaleonline