Yesterday (Wednesday 15/10/2025), Labour have voted against a Plaid Cymru motion that called for the Welsh Government to introduce policies to support town centres.
The Plaid Cymru motion called on the Welsh Government to:
- establish a preferential business rates multipliers for small and independent high street retailers, including hospitality businesses.
- establish long-term funding certainty for town centre regeneration.
- bring forward legislation to strengthen community ‘Right to Buy’ powers.
The motion was put forward by Plaid Cymru in response to the deterioration of high streets in Wales after Labour’s failure to support high street businesses.
Recent analysis by the Welsh Retail Consortium shows that 1 in 6 shops in Wales are vacant, which is the second highest figure in the UK.
During the debate, Plaid Cymru emphasised the importance of town centres and high streets to local communities, as community amenities are sold off and our high streets are littered with vacant properties.
Plaid Cymru have called for the establishment of preferential business rates multipliers for small and independent high street retailers, compared to out-of-town retailers that are at an advantage.
Labour deleted the calls in the motion, claiming to ‘support the action being taken by the Welsh Government’.
Plaid Cymru MS, Heledd Fychan said:
“After 26 years of Labour mismanagement, Wales’ economy is struggling and our high streets are paying the price. In, Wales, our town centres and high streets are often the heart of our communities, but Labour are letting us down.
“Amenities that are important to our communities, pubs, libraries and leisure centres are being lost, and then left vacant, leaving a scar in our communities of what once was. In the rest of the UK, communities have a right to buy these amenities, but in Wales, our communities have no such privilege.
“Plaid Cymru is serious about supporting our town centres and empowering our communities, but unfortunately, Labour do not feel the same, having voted against our motion that would do exactly that.
“Labour have let down Wales for 26 years, and our communities are yearning for change. That change comes in the form of a Plaid Cymru Government in 2026 which offers new leadership for Wales, and has credible, ambitious plans to improve the lives of people in Wales’ communities.”
Showing 1 reaction