TV’s Queen of Shops Mary Portas has published a detailed report on how to save Britain’s failing high streets.

A third of the nation’s town centres are “degenerating or failing”, according to Government research.

But can Huddersfield turn its fortunes around with some tips from the shopping guru – or is the town centre ultimately doomed?

Magdale seems to have a low opinion of central Huddersfield: “Shops need customers to survive and individual customers are drawn to certain types of shop. As Huddersfield has gone past the point of no return to charity shops, pound stores, pay weekly shops and turf accountants, then what you see today is the best it will be as shoppers with money will not wade through the sea of feckless chavs to go to such stores.’’

AntP added: “Mary Queen of the Obvious – and some years behind the rest of us I think.“Exorbitant rates for businesses are the single dominating factor for shops in the town opening or closing. Kirklees (and other councils) need to lower the rates they charge and control the rates charged by property companies for shops. They also need to stop the practice of letting big companies railroad planning permissions through for supermarkets and shopping parks no-one wants.

“Free parking (or cheaper parking) is one start. A bus service that’s reliable and reasonably priced is another start.

“Huddersfield has the potential to have a superb shopping experience in the town centre – and one that requires not one jot of new building projects, just some TLC to some of the outstanding buildings that already exist, combined with a council that wants to support small businesses and not the mega companies.”

TommyDGNR8 thinks it may all be a lost cause: “I normally have a lot of time for Mary, but she’s just another one sticking her head in the sand if she thinks the ‘High Street’ can be turned around.

“Books and music/video are already disappearing and electrical outlets are increasingly treated as showrooms to examine goods before buying online for a 25% saving.

“There will always be a place for clothing and shoe shops, but the day of the shop for anything utilitarian is over.

“The Meadowhalls and Trafford Centres are the new town centres. We should be planning what we do with our old ones around work and leisure, not commerce.

“Incidentally, free town centre parking? It would be full of commuters’ cars before the shops opened.”