A call for urgent action to help a Suffolk town's high street has been made as supermarkets were accused of enticing shoppers away.

Cllr Joe Mason, who represents Haverhill, told members of West Suffolk’s cabinet yesterday that larger supermarkets such as Tesco, Aldi, and Home Bargains, were vacuuming footfall from the town’s high street.

He added: “We need a real plan, and it’s urgent, on how we’re going to save our high street sooner rather than later.”

Cllr Mason suggested parking should be free for the first hour, as opposed to the 50p charge currently in place, and the council’s current vacant properties should be used for pop-up markets.

Cllr Indy Wijenayaka, portfolio holder for growth, said: “To say that there is no sense of urgency is wrong, I can promise there is a sense of urgency — we are doing everything we can with the resources we have.

“This council has made clear what our priorities are and that we have markets, high streets, and our communities at the centre of our priorities.”

Although Cllr Mason recognised the council’s efforts in revitalising high streets, he warned this was not enough, suggesting there had been rumours more shops could be leaving Haverhill, adding to the 13 already empty units.

Some of the work the council is already doing includes freezing market charges in some areas, calling more stallholders to join Makers Markets, and providing free parking on Fridays,

In terms of vacancy rate, however, Haverhill remains below the national average, with car parking provision above 2019/20 levels by 48 per cent.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: “If somebody wants to nip out to the shops, whatever the charges are for that, it’s actually 50p more because of parking.

“We need to create an environment where it’s easy for people to pop to their local shops and not feel they’re being charged.”

Cllr Mason’s worries follow similar concerns raised by Cllr Andy Neal during last month’s budget-setting meeting.

At the time, he said: “Our markets are West Suffolk towns’ history and should be embraced, featured and preserved, not neglected the way I feel they currently are.

“We have a duty of care to our historical markets. Currently, they are failing by design and are being grossly undervalued.”

Addressing this, Cllr Wijenayaka added: “We are not leaving these markets to die — it is a very serious issue and we are taking it very seriously.

“I would ask every person to have a bit of patience and understand we are going through a process to come up with the best possible answer to the residents of West Suffolk.”