What do you call Watford's largest shopping centre? In my experience, many people still prefer The Harlequin to intu Watford. But whatever name you give it, there can be little doubt that high streets across the country are facing a challenge like never before.

All of us were so sad to see the closure of Debenhams and John Lewis in recent weeks. They provided hundreds of jobs, drew people to our town centre, and in the case of John Lewis had been a central part of Watford for decades.

The rapid growth of online shopping presents real difficulties for town centres and there isn't a simple solution to ensure their long term success. However, we are working hard to help our high street to adapt to the new realities.

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Town centres, including our own, will have to become more than shopping centres but places where people meet and our community comes together. They will have to provide a much wider range of activities that appeal to everyone in our community and beyond.

The good thing is that Watford is ahead of many other town centres in attracting investment. We have outstanding new leisure facilities, such as our new cinema and bowling alley. We have a popular theatre and entertainment venues and free community events; making our town centre a safe and attractive environment that is accessible to everyone.

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Nationally we are pressing for the Business Rates system to be overhauled so that it doesn't clobber businesses with shops with huge tax bills and allow online retailer to pay next to nothing.

There are signs that the enormous increase in home working is breathing life in to some town centres, as people who previously spent money in London, or wherever they worked, are spending more time closer to home. And perhaps the name of our shopping centre is not simply an interesting talking point but relates to a significant issue.

Town centres that succeed need to have their own identity and not simply look and feel like any other high street. The success of Watford as a retail and leisure destination in the future will depend on it being a centre for our community, a place for people to meet, new business to start and grow and where people live, worship and study.

  • Peter Taylor is Elected Mayor of Watford