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Markets key to saving high street

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Markets and tourism are key to saving our local high streets, according to experts.

Markets and tourism are key to saving our local high streets, according to experts.

The power of internet shopping means the focus on traditional retail to revive failing town centres needs to be changed, according to research from the University of Greenwich.

Associate Professor Andres Coca-Stefaniak at Greenwich said: "Early findings of our current research through the GO TRADE project show that a vibrant market can be a catalyst for revitalising the visitor economy in town centres.

"Markets are often the first chance for young entrepreneurs to test their ideas on a pop-up stall. They meet other traders and share ideas, it gives an area energy. We will be sharing early findings of our project's international research with market traders, visitors and local shops with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Markets in Parliament on 13 November."

Dr Coca-Stefaniak is a co-investigator on the GO TRADE project, led by the university's Professor Petros Ieromonachou.

GO TRADE is a four-year €5.4 million project, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg 5A programme.

The project aims to support markets in heritage market towns in England and France, and conduct research into the factors that have the biggest impact on their success or failure.