LESS than half of Brits are proud of their town centres.

Just 49% of people surveyed in a poll by Uswitch.com – 53% in the ‘North East’ region which includes Yorkshire – said they had pride in their local town centre.

But there were some positive noises made about Huddersfield’s town centre from those in the town.

The survey saw 45% complain of a poor choice of shops, 15% complained of their town centre’s run down state, while a quarter said they used to be proud of their town centre but no longer were.

Some 69% of those surveyed blamed vacant shops as the main cause of making town centre appear shabby.

People said high rents, high rates and the fact that small businesses could not compete against major retailers were the main cause of empty shops.

But 59% in the region believed their high street was essential to the community.

Have your say in our detailed local survey below. The results will be published next week in your Examiner.

Green Clr Andrew Cooper, whose Newsome ward includes the town centre, said he believed people of Huddersfield were proud of their town centre.

But he said the town needed more pedestrianisation and independent shops to attract more people.

Clr Cooper said: “People in Huddersfield are fiercely proud of their heritage and that includes the town hall, the railway station and the town centre.

“But there is concern about empty shops and the threats to the town centre by supermarkets.