Economy alert: Vape shops blamed for decline in UK high streets as town centres collapse

Vape shops have been blamed by the British public for the decline in UK high streets as town centres collapse across the country, according to damning new polling.New polling commissioned by The Freedom Association reveals that the vast majority of British voters hold vape shops responsible for displacing traditional retailers.The survey, carried out by Whitestone Insight among 2,114 UK adults, found that 85 per cent of respondents believe businesses such as butchers, bakers, and grocers have been pushed out by the proliferation of vape stores, Turkish barbers, and nail bars.According to the research, this rapid transformation has fundamentally altered the character of Britain's historic high streets, with voters increasingly viewing the spread of vaping outlets as emblematic of wider urban decline.The research paints a bleak picture of how Britons perceive their local shopping areas, with 68 per cent stating their high street has deteriorated over the past ten years and 43 per cent describing it as much worse.Notably, only 11 per cent of Britons who were polled by The Freedom Association shared they they felt conditions had improved during that period.When asked to identify the most pressing issues facing town centres, respondents placed the abundance of vape shops as their second greatest concern, ranking it above crime and antisocial behaviour.Nearly half of those surveyed, some 47 per cent, complained about excessive numbers of vaping retailers, trailing only empty and boarded-up premises at 50 per cent.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSDonald Trump to hit UK with 100 tariff 'IMMEDIATELY' if Labour imposes taxMajor UK airline under fire over 'questionable' policy that could leave customers paying moreMajor brewery to give away £1MILLION in free beer if England, Scotland or USA reach World Cup finalDavid Campbell Bannerman, chairman of The Freedom Association, said: For many people, vape shops have become a visible symbol of what has gone wrong on Britain's high streets. He added that residents surveying their town centres now encounter fewer traditional family businesses and more vaping outlets, barber shops, and nail salons.Mr Campbell Bannerman added: They feel the unique character of their communities is being lost as these businesses are often illegal, perhaps using trafficked employees or used for money laundering.He argued that the public believes thriving local enterprises have given way to outlets contributing little to the health and prosperity of their communities.The polling revealed an overwhelming public appetite for regulatory intervention when it comes to tackling Britain's high street crisis.Some 87 per cent backed proposals to grant local councils the authority to limit the number of vaping retailers permitted on any given high street, while just seven per cent opposed such measures.These findings come amid a dramatic expansion of the sector, with research indicating vape shop numbers across English high streets have surged by nearly 1,200 per cent over the past decade.The Government has responded by announcing a prohibition on disposable vapes, additional funding for enforcement, extra Trading Standards officers and proposals to give councils greater control over new vape shop openings. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter