TRADERS in Oxford are so concerned about the future of the British High Street that they have urged Business Secretary Greg Clark to conduct a review of business rates.

ROX - Promoting Oxford Business - has written to Mr Clark to request the review in the hope that he decides to reduce them.

The group warned that a growing number of empty shops it could have a ‘devastating effect’ on a historic city like Oxford.

The organisation represents hundreds of businesses including the retail, restaurant and hotel sectors and architects, chartered accountants and surveyors.

Graham Jones, a member of ROX, said some High Street businesses were suffering as a result of competition from the web.

He said: “Businesses which operate only online or from warehouses don’t pay as much because they are not based in city centres.

“We want more of a level playing field, which is why we are calling for the detailed review.

“A reduction in business rates would have to be a reasonable one to make a difference - as much as 20 to 25 per cent.”

National chains like Toys 'R' Us and M&S have announced store closures while restaurant chains including Jamie’s Italian have entered into Company Voluntary Arrangements after building up significant debts.

The letter to Mr Clark said: “For many years, particularly leading up to and since the 2008 recession, local trading outlets have struggled with patchy years of turnover.

“Since the opening of a much larger Westgate Centre last year, footfall within Oxford has increased but not the turnover of many retailers.

“The Westgate has been relatively successful in its first eight months but still has many units to fill and one restaurant has closed after six months."

The letter goes on to discuss tourism: “Although the weaker pound has seen an increase in the number of overseas visitors, this has only helped to compensate for the loss of regular shoppers and UK visitors.

“The national picture of retail in the last few weeks has been rather bleak and, as many commentators have said, we appear to be at a tipping point, with a very high risk of empty city and town centres. This could devastate the appearance of historic centres like Oxford.

“As you will be more than aware, there are many factors affecting trading outlets.

“These include rates, rents, internet shopping, out of town centres, loss of footfall because of reorientation of town and city centres and through development, and the need to adapt to the consumers’ changing shopping trends.

“However, most of the businesses with whom we communicate believe that they are now at a huge disadvantage compared to online retailers, who they see as the main threat to their existence.”

The letter said traders were aware that the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee was carrying out The High Streets and Town Centres in 2030 Inquiry.

The city council’s footfall figures showed that about 8.8m people walked through the centre from January until the end of March 2018, compared to 7.7m during the same period last year.