Number of empty shops in Leicester city...

There are lots of empty shops in L'bro too... Though, plenty of charity shops. I am all for charity but hear me out. SOME charity shops sell brand new goods, SOME charity organisations keep 30% of their earnings as profit. I think Loros is a fantastic hospice. It has 30 beds for people in the last weeks/days of their lives. The founder of Loros lives in a mansion & even has his own helicopter. His only job is running this "charity". Charity shops DO NOT pay as much (if any) taxes as "normal" shops. The majority of small, family busnesses does not afford that family the same luxuries as this example. Many charity shop workers are not volunteers, in fact, many of the managers of these shops are on a yearly double figure wage for part time hours!

My point is this. If I have a shop, I don't know, say selling jewellery. I have LOTS of overheads that I have to pay to run my shop. Increased utillity bills, council tax, VAT, to name just a couple. Why should a charity shop (maybe next door, or close by) be allowed to sell brand new items that include jewellery & yet not have to pay the same taxes as me, a person just wanting to earn enough money to pay the taxes & bills that I need to pay as a worker, driver & home owner?

Yet an adult shop, like http://www.hotnsexy.co.uk/ if placed on the high street would be unlikely to gain planning permission to be there, and even if it did would pay thousands for its license.

How ridiculous in these times of hardship that the council will actively discourage businesses from opening on the high street

no chance, people like to go and buy. High street retail will always exist, internet purchasing is grea but People like to try clothes on or go get the new tv NOW and not wait, it may be cheaper but sometimes who cares, if you want it you want it! Go buy from your local retailer, support the high street and the independants.