Warning! toxic high streets

摘要

Traditional shopping streets in UK neighbourhoods have changed out of all recognition in the last few decades. In some areas the traditional grocers, bakers and butchers have been replaced by coffee shops, chi-chi delis and shops selling 'lovely little things'. Reinvented, reinvigorated, heritage coloured, they present the epitome of a modern urbane lifestyle. However, the story is very different in many poorer neighbourhoods. These have experienced unprecedented growth of an unhealthy and in some cases harmful mix of fast-food takeaways and 'all you can eat' buffets - selling energy-dense, nutritionally poor food; sub-prime moneylenders -offering instant cash at eye-watering interest rates.