Retail expert Mary Portas has come up with a rescue plan for the nation's high streets, which includes the appointment of a minister for shops.

Her independent report for the Government on the decline of town centres says years of neglect, out-of-town retail development, the stranglehold of supermarkets and the growth of online shopping have left may areas "dying".

Her 28 key recommendations include:
*The appointment of a minister for shops
*Town teams to champion the high street
*Business rate concessions for entrepreneurs
*Use of empty stores for gyms, creches and bingo halls to breathe new life into ailing communities
*A national market day to draw shoppers into town centres
*A parking league table so shoppers can compare charges

The findings of the Portas review have been largely welcomed by business and retail groups.

Dr Neil Bentley, CBI deputy director-general commented: "The Portas Review makes some sensible suggestions about how we can inject life back into town centres, including increased use of Business Improvement Districts and relaxing panning restrictions on the high street, in particular on change of use.
"More importantly, she recognises the growing burden business rates are placing on companies right across the country at a critical time.
"We need to make sure the UK remains attractive to investors as it's their decisions that will ultimately lead to regeneration of our town centres. Any changes to the planning and business rate regimes must therefore encourage investment in the broadest sense, and not just rob Peter to pay Paul."

Richard Perks, retail director of independent market intelligence provider Mintel, described the thrust of the report as "very sensible". Although he argued that the high street was "certainly not in terminal decline" he agreed that Mary Portas was "absolutely spot on" when she said that to survive high streets needed more investment.

"Ideas such as more markets are excellent because they add more excitement to the high street. No one owes a retailer a living. No one owes a high street a living. Consumers go where they are best served and that is as true of retailers as it is of high streets. A high street that gets no investment has no future," he added.

The British Independent Retailers Association (bira) welcomed common sense solutions and warned that the decline had to be arrested first by tackling the three Ps:
Parking - punitive parking rates
Property - upward only rent reviews
Planning - to make the Town Centre First principle more than just an empty phrase

Deputy chief executive Michael Weedon said: "Towns grew organically as part of the local economic and social ecology. They have been damaged and are still being damaged. Stop the damage first and Mary's town teams might stand a chance in helping high streets thrive, rather than fighting a rearguard action against the pain that is being inflicted on them through Parking, Property and Planning."