Calls For More Independent Retailers In Middlesbrough

There are calls for less betting shops and more specialist food stores in Middlesbrough.

It's as figures from a study by the Association of Convenience Stores claim 45% of shoppers in the town believe it would be beneficial for their local area to have less bookies.

Parking charges are also a hot topic, with 46% of consumers across the UK stating reducing parking charges should be a priority.

Middlesbrough Mayor David Budd told TFM he wants to push for more independent, quirky stores....

"We don't want a whole row of betting shops in the town centre, at least I don't. I'm not saying we ban them completely but I think we could limit the numbers and not have them all sort of next to each other. But there are other things that we can do, and are doing ourselves."