A COMMUNITY leader has told of his fears that out-of-town shopping could lead to 'ghost towns' in the region.
David Walsh, leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, welcomed a report highlighting the threat to Britain's small neighbourhood shops, pubs and post offices.
The New Economic Foundation report said if current trends continue, town, estate and village centre facilities would disappear.
The study showed that between 1995 and 2000, Britain lost 30,000 local outlets. It predicts that another 28,000 outlets may close and lays the blame on large supermarket chains and out-of-town retail parks.
Coun Walsh said: "In a borough like Redcar and Cleveland, which is made up of small towns, large estates and villages, the need for local shops and local services is paramount.
"A constant problem is the fact that, in many of these centres, we have vacant shops, pubs and banks, deserted by their former owners. These properties all too often become down at heel and vandalised and effectively downgrade the entire area."
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