The London Assembly has called on all London Members of Parliament to support the reintroduction of the Sustainable Communities Bill.
The move follows a motion passed by the Assembly welcoming the Bill.
Darren Johnson AM, who proposed the motion, said: “Towns across the country are experiencing the twin problems of ‘ghost town Britain’ and ‘clone town Britain’.
Local shops, services and facilities are being driven out of business or taken over by retail giants. London suffers this as much as anywhere. Of the 7,000 independent convenience stores lost in the last 3 years, 1,000 were in London.
The bill seeks to reverse this decline and inspire local economic renewal. I am delighted that it has achieved cross party support in the Assembly.”
If the Bill was passed it would require central Government to assist councils and communities in promoting local sustainability plans.
Baroness Hamwee, Chair of the London Assembly will now write to all MPs on behalf of the Assembly asking then to support the bill.
Speaking today Baroness Hamwee said: “Many areas in London are suffering from the deterioration of town centres, local shops closing down, the fear of crime and damage to the environment. Measures raised in the Bill should help to strengten and revitalise the capital’s communities.”
