Lincoln has been revealed as one of the unhealthiest cities in Britain in a survey from 70 high streets.
This is according to the report by The Royal Society of Health that was published on Friday, November 2. Lincoln has the second highest amount of fast-food chains in the country with 5.6 per cent. The city came runner-up to Luton, with 6.7 per cent.
In fact, Lincolnshire hasn’t fared well in the report at all, with Grimsby topping the list overall for ‘unhealthiest city’ and Lincoln coming in 27th position.
There have been concerns about the decline of the British high street, with past shopping staples such as Marks and Spencer’s, House of Frasier and Debenhams closing and struggling with sales. In addition to last year’s figures showing the biggest year-on-year drop in footfall in a decade.
This is compared to the number of fast-food restaurants appearing on the high street, which has risen by 8 per cent in just over three years, leading to worries that unhealthy fast-food chain companies are gradually taking over high streets in favour of supporting independent businesses.
As well as this, it is estimated by The Guardian that 1 in 10 shops lie empty. Grimsby once again topped the list for this, with 27 per cent of shops lying vacant in the town centre.
According to the 2012 report by NHS Lincolnshire, the county’s population of obese people is one per cent higher than the national average of 25 per cent.
The recent report was calculated through an average score based on the number of vacant shops, fast-food eateries and chains. Edinburgh, Canterbury and Taunton came out with the lowest point score and were seen as being the healthiest places to live in the UK.