A week of news - focus on the high street

Mary Portas has urged the government to revisit the issue of high street trading - but no two towns have the same dynamic.

Take Optician's local high street in Sutton, for example. It's currently bursting at the seams as families on their school holidays queue up at niche market stalls and temporary fairground attractions while being serenaded by street performers. This is a far cry from a host of tumbleweed-gathering town locations cut off at the knees by out-of-town retail complexes.

Therefore, although best practice examples cited by Sight Care in towns such as Winchester and Bath are worth noting, other places must feel like throwing the towel in.