A new report has shown that Nottingham has the most empty shops in the country. Why are there more boarded-up shops in Nottingham than anywhere else?

Alison Rouse said “Nottingham City Council say they don’t agree with the figures in the report because some of the streets included areas outside the city centre. It doesn’t make a difference where the empty shops are, the fact is that nobody is using them; nobody has a job in them. The Council should remember Nottingham isn’t just the City Centre.”

Westfield were going to expand the Broadmarsh Centre, creating 6,000 jobs, but decided against it because the council gave Victoria Centre the go-ahead to expand at the same time.

Saghir Akhtar said “It’s a disaster; Westfield had some great plans for the Broadmarsh, just look at what they’ve done in London and Derby – they could have done the same here in Nottingham.

“It’s time that the Council looked at ways to encourage companies to open up shops in any of the vacant properties – whether in the city centre or not. Residents deserve choice, local shopping and new jobs.”