31 January 2014

The NHBF in January highlighted the frustrations many salon owners feel over “unnecessary” council bureaucracy, in its first submission to the government’s Future High Streets Forum since being asked to join the body in December.

The forum, which comprises retailers, business and property groups, council leaders and politicians, was set up early in 2013 and is examining ways to reinvigorate Britain’s high streets.

The NHBF attended its first meeting in January and carried out a survey as part of a forum “call for evidence” around “unnecessary” regulation having a negative impact on town centres, but specifically excluding business rates, car parking and planning restrictions.

This identified waste disposal and recycling laws as being particular headaches for many salons, along with street cleaning, restrictions on deliveries, signage and generally poor council communication and bureaucracy.

There will be full coverage within the March/April edition of SalonFocus.