A former Welsh Government minister has warned the traditional business model for town centres is “dead”, dismissing “magic bullets” such as free parking and abolishing business rates.

Labour’s Lee Waters argued the economic reality of online and out-of-town shopping means a new purpose must be found for struggling high streets.

Mr Waters described town centre regeneration as a “gnarly, knotty problem”, with economics at its heart, during a debate in the Senedd.

Warning of an “unfair, unlevel playing field”, he told the Senedd: “The business model of the town centre that we all grew up with is dead.”

The former transport minister said the business model has been “enormously disrupted” by supermarkets, out-of-town shopping, online retail and the pandemic.

Mr Waters warned of little evid

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