Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies has met with local traders to discuss the Welsh Conservatives' High Street regeneration policy, this week. Sadly, footfall in town centres has fallen by a fifth in the last five years, while the shop vacancy rate in Wales is four per cent above the UK average.

Wales also has one of the lowest enterprise birth rates of all the UK nations and regions.

The Welsh Conservatives' High Street policy includes: a consultation on creating two different rate multipliers for small and large businesses to make the Welsh economy more competitive; a charter for the High Streets, so local authorities can share best practice; a Tîm y Dref for each High Street - a team of local people to develop an inclusive community-led regeneration initiative; promoting the benefits of town centre managers in each local authority; greater planning guidance from the Welsh Government to reflect the changing nature of the High Street.

Mr. Davies said: "Currently Wales has the lowest business rates in the UK for large supermarkets, but the highest in the UK for small businesses. Ninety-nine per cent of the private sector in Wales is made up of small and medium-sized enterprises and it is important that we have a bold and ambitious vision to support them and to regenerate our High Streets.

"Many town centres in Pembrokeshire, much like the rest of the country, are sadly blighted with vacant premises and it's essential that we tackle this problem as soon as possible. High Streets are the lifeblood of communities the length and breadth of Wales and we want them to stay that way," he added.