What does the author recommend?
The decline of the high street is usually blamed on online shopping, and there is truth in that. But shops have also been undermined by changes in how towns are planned: out-of-town retail parks draw trade away from the centre, car parking is dear, and buildings are left empty because their owners find it cheaper to wait than to rent at lower prices. Nostalgia is no guide to policy. A high street that merely sells goods that can be bought more cheaply online has no future. A high street that offers things online cannot, such as services, food, company and a reason to linger, might. Councils could encourage this by freeing planning rules to allow homes, workshops and cafes in place of the shops that will not return.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Allowing varied uses of town-centre buildings in place of shops that will not return
- Step 1: The final sentence recommends freeing planning rules to allow homes, workshops and cafes in place of shops that will not return.
- Step 2: The only choice consistent with this is "Allowing varied uses of town-centre buildings in place of shops that will not return".
Answer
Allowing varied uses of town-centre buildings in place of shops that will not return.
Why not the others: Banning online shopping, restoring the past, closing retail parks and abolishing parking charges are not proposed.
Practise more Town and city life.
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