More than 30 shops are up for rent or sale in Huddersfield town centre.

And the situation has been labelled a “crisis” by those concerned about the town.

The number of closing or closed units within the ring road was revealed through online estate agents’ search website Right Move, which showed that some of the most busy streets were the biggest hit.

Six retail units on the town’s former main parade New Street are now sitting empty, while eight have or are due to shut in Imperial Arcade.

Others are closed in Market Street and Ramsden Street.

Imposing historical buildings are also lying empty, such as the former Essoldo cinema in Queensgate, the old Co-operative building on New Street and also up for rent is the town’s oldest bank and grade II-listed building in Union Bank Yard, currently a photography studio.

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Steven Leigh, head of policy at the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said the tally of shutdown shops needed drastic action by Kirklees Council to tackle three key issues.

He said: “I think the main reasons these shops are closing are due to parking cost, business rates and planning.

“The council needs to recognise that people like out of town shopping where parking is free.We need to be more innovative with centre parking charges to attract more people, e.g. by making parking free at certain times so that shoppers can take advantage of this.

“Secondly, business rates are affecting shops a lot because as internet shopping is booming paying large rates for town centre shops is becoming less affordable.

“The government needs to speed up its review into business rates and tackle the issue because I think there has to be a better way to raise money.

Vacant shop and pub premises in Huddersfield town centre - Imperial Arcade.

“Lastly, the council’s planners need to take a long look at retail stores applying for permission outside the centre because this again drives away people from coming.”

Karen Hobson, of Huddersfield Partnership, thinks creative people should be used to put empty buildings back into use.

“From an aesthetic point of view, it’s important to utilise these spaces to make the town look more attractive and I think getting art in the windows would help.

“Our project at the moment is to come together with the landlords and get them to host pop up shops in empty units, which we hope to start next year.

“We’ve got so many talented and creative people who want to set up their own business but don’t want to commit to renting somewhere long term at the outset and pop ups would give the town a great vibrancy, we’re just trying to make landlords understand the benefits.”

Vacant shop and pub premises in Huddersfield town centre - New Street.

Meanwhile Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman thinks bringing in upmarket eateries would encourage more shopping.

He said: “The situation at the moment amounts to a crisis and this should be a wake up call to all of us to do something, like I’m trying to do with my Huddersfield 20:20 regeneration project with business leaders.

“I want Betty’s and a Browns that other university towns have, along with more street music and lower cost leases. We need good quality shops, not pound stores and takeaways.

“We’re having good meetings with Kirklees Council about regeneration and I’ve got people at LSE undertaking research into the situation here to help us create a proper regenerations strategy to follow.”