South east London has some of the least healthy high streets in the whole capital, according to a survey.

The Royal Society for Public Health has published a league table of London places based on the proportion of businesses in their main shopping area found to either support or harm the public's health.

Their survey identifies bookmakers, payday loan shops, fast food outlets and tanning salons as having the most negative impact on health. In contrast, pharmacies, leisure centres and health services are judged to have the most positive impact.

And, while the survey shows Whitechapel had the least healthy shopping area in those London places surveyed,  Plumstead - which has around five fried chicken shops on the high street alone -  is judged to be 6th worst with New Cross in 7th.

Just bubbling under were Lee Green in 11th place - once dubbed Britain's worst shopping area and due to be redeveloped - Penge at 12th position, Deptford in 13th place and Downham 19th.

At the other end of the scale, Blackheath's main shopping area was judged 13th healthiest in the capital, with Forest Hill, Beckenham and Erith also being praised.

Society chief executive Shirley Cramer said: "While our ranking of towns and cities is by no means a reflection on whether these areas are generally healthy or unhealthy, our research does find higher concentrations of unhealthy businesses exist in places which already experience high levels of deprivation and premature mortality. 

"We recognise that businesses investing in High Streets are important for local economies, but this shouldn’t be at any price."  

The society is now calling on local authorities to be given greater planning powers to prevent the proliferation of betting shops, payday lenders and fast food outlets - an echo of both Lewisham and Greenwich Council's concerns over bookies.

They also want a limit of 5 per cent for each type of business on our high streets and public health criteria to be a condition of licensing for all types of business.

 

How our high streets fared

1. Whitechapel (least healthy in London)

6. Plumstead

7. New Cross

11. Lee Green

12. Penge

13. Deptford

19. Downham

43. Sydenham

59. Crayford

66. Welling

71. East Greenwich

103. Petts Wood

110. Sidcup

116. Forest Hill

121. West Wickham

123. Erith

127. Beckenham

132 Blackheath

144. Whetstone (London's healthiest)