Research reveals how high streets are so unhealthy

HIGH streets in the North East are becoming increasingly unhealthy with community facilities like libraries and banks being replaced by vape shops, pawnbrokers and takeaways, a new study says.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

The report published by Health Equity North has found that the quality of the high street is declining across the country, with community facilities being replaced by more harmful outlets, particularly in the North and other poorer areas.

Academics from Newcastle and Manchester Universities found massive increases in the numbers of vape shops, while the number of takeaways has risen 64% in Sunderland in the last decade and 43% in Gateshead. But there have been declines in facilities such as pharmacies, public toilets, banks and building societies in all parts of the North East.

The report found that there are three times more vape shops in deprived areas compared to the least deprived ones and 25 times more pawnbrokers in deprived areas.