IN A note of encouragement for despondent business owners, the South's high streets are doing a notch better than those in the rest of the country, according to an Advertiser survey.

We hiked the streets of Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead and Selsdon this week to tally up the disused shops.

Nine per cent of premises were empty, putting the area three percentage points ahead of the average rate for the south of England, which hovers around 12 per cent. Council figures suggest the vast majority have been empty for less than one year.

Still, shopkeepers across those areas stressed the importance of getting the variety of shops that can lure shoppers.

Gary Beckett, of Advanced Print in Coulsdon, where Advertiser counted eleven disused shop fronts, said: "We are in a Catch-22 situation. The lack of variety turns people away, which turns new business away, which turns new shoppers away."

Nava Navarajah, owner of Best Save Food, on Brighton Road, said: "Landlords need to offer some kind of rent discount to encourage new business owners to come in.

"Coulsdon could be a thriving place – the one-hour free parking outside has been great."

In Kenley, where the Advertiser counted two empty shops along the parade of 23, Deep Sea Fish Bar owner Tahsir Dagdelen said: "It is very important the business rates do not get too high. Parking can be a struggle but the free parking has been good.

"My biggest problem is that buses sometimes do not arrive on time, which can affect my customers."

It is far from all doom and gloom. Several new businesses have taken root in empty sites in recent months.

Mehmet Akis, who has opened Goz Restaurant on Brighton Road, said he was encouraged by the success of his other business, Frames Sports Bar, next door.

He added: "A good restaurant is going to bring people in to the town – we do fresh food all cooked in front of the customers.

"I hope some of the vacant shops will be filled with office workers – they all need places to eat and they will spend money in other shops."

In Purley, Michael Iacofonio's Ten Tonne Tattoo parlour filled a long empty site last month.

Mr Iacofonio said: "I started the business here because I wanted to be able to walk to work.

"The rent is about £1,500 per month, and I have a lot of other expenses such as waste disposal and special treatment licences.

"But I am offering something unique, so I have customers coming from all around."

In Selsdon, where the Advertiser counted three empty shops, Selsdon resident Selda Refet, 26, has opened Eden cafe.

She said: "We have had a good response so far.

"It would be great if the business rates were lower; they are around £6,000 per year.

"The area has actually improved since a few years ago, when there were many more empty shops.

"I hope people do support their local shops – if not the high streets will simply die out."