Shrewsbury tops UK's Healthiest High Streets table

The league table ranks 70 of the UK’s major towns and cities based on the proportion of businesses found in their main retail area that either support or harm the public’s health.

The league table forms part of Royal Society for Public Health’s Health on the High Street campaign which aims to make high streets healthier, by encouraging businesses to take steps to promote health while also giving further powers to local authorities in the areas of planning and licensing.

Based on public and expert opinion, the Society has identified bookmakers, payday loan shops, fast food outlets and tanning salons as having the most negative impact on health, and pharmacies, leisure centres, and health services as having the most positive impact.

Businesses were scored by over 2000 members of the public and experts, on the extent to which they encourage healthy choices; promote social interaction; provide access to health advice; and promote positive mental wellbeing. Based on the scoring and the prevalence of these different businesses in each town or city, they were ranked.

Places with the healthiest retail areas:
1. Shrewsbury
2. Ayr
3. Salisbury
4. Perth
5. Hereford
6. Carlisle
7. Cambridge
8. Cheltenham
9. York
10. Bristol

Places with the unhealthiest retail areas:
1. Preston
2. Middlesbrough
3. Coventry
4. Blackpool
5. Northampton
6. Wolverhampton
7. Grimsby
8. Huddersfield
9. Stoke on Trent
10. Eastbourne

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health said:

“While our ranking of towns and cities is by no means a reflection on whether these areas are generally healthy or unhealthy, our research does find higher concentrations of unhealthy businesses exist in places which already experience high levels of deprivation and premature mortality. We recognise that businesses investing in High Streets are important for local economies; but this shouldn’t be at any price. The Five Year Forward View calls for us to move “further and faster” to improve the public’s health. This could be achieved by granting Local Authorities enhanced powers to create a rich mix of health promoting businesses on our high streets and encouraging businesses to promote healthy choices.”

Helen Ball, Town Clerk said the news emphasised the Team Shrewsbury philosophy.

“The Team Shrewsbury ethos is all about the town being a fantastic place to live, work and play and our placement in the RSPH’s league table just goes to show how small changes can make a big impact. This is great news for the town, and its residents, and we are duly proud of our ranking.”

Alan Mosley, leader of the Council said:

“This is yet another accolade to those responsible for the governance and management of the Town in recent years and who have ensured that it has retained its character, attractions, vibrancy and services.

“Although it will be no surprise to those who live, work and visit the town it should be a source of pride for all involved. It is certainly something for us all to shout about and let others know what a really great place Shrewsbury is.”

Kirsten Henly, Shrewsbury BID Manager added:

“The vast majority of people interviewed were extremely happy about what Shrewsbury has to offer and it also underlined that our strength lies in a combination of factors rather than just one single attraction.

“Today’s news of our town coming top of the Healthy High Streets league table only goes to bolster the positive feedback gleaned from the research. The league table showed that towns and cities in the North and Midlands are more likely to have higher concentration of businesses which do not have such a positive impact on people’s lifestyles, so Shrewsbury certainly bucked the trend coming top of the healthiest retail areas. Shrewsbury is without a doubt one of the country’s most desirable places to shop, live, work and visit.”