Shopkeepers urged: Stop high street cloning

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The Tory candidate for Richmond Park is setting up a non-political retail association to help small shops to survive.

It is the latest local initiative inspired by the Evening Standard's Save Our Small Shops campaign to try to roll back the domination of the big chains.

Despite being one of Britain's wealthiest areas, Richmond town centre has one of the least diverse high streets in Britain and was named among the worst "clone towns" in a report from the New Economics Foundation think tank.

Mr Goldsmith said other borough shopping areas such as Barnes were in danger.

Two thirds of Barnes residents said the choice of shops there had got "significantly worse".

Mr Goldsmith has been inspired not only by the Standard's campaign but by Kensington & Chelsea council's measures to help small shops and the revival of Marylebone High Street.

He added: "We need a clear vision ... It has to be driven by shopkeepers and residents who must bully the council into doing the right thing."