SALISBURY has been ranked the third healthiest major town or city in the UK, based on its high-street businesses.

The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) has published a league table ranking 70 of the UK’s major towns and cities, based on the proportion of businesses found in their main retail area that either support or harm the public’s health.

Shrewsbury ranked first, while Ayr in Scotland came second.

The league table forms part of RSPH’s Health on the High Street campaign, which aims to make high streets healthier by encouraging businesses to promote health and giving further powers to councils’ planning and licensing departments.

Steve Godwin, business manager at Salisbury Business Improvement District (BID), said Salisbury had managed to retain a wide range of quality retail shops, pubs and restaurants, despite probably the longest and worst recession in most people’s lifetimes.

He said: “We are fortunate to have a diverse and enviable mix of independents and nationals, all sitting comfortably together with an offer that many other towns and cities envy.

“As a cathedral city, we are also fortunate to have many valuable attractions and cultural reasons for people to visit, including the Salisbury Playhouse, City Hall, Arts Centre, and others, all attracting a high volume of visitors.”

Based on public and expert opinion, the society has identified bookmakers, payday loan shops, fast food outlets and tanning salons as having the most negative impact on health.

Pharmacies, leisure centres and health services are considered to have the most positive impact.

Businesses were scored by over 2,000 members of the public and experts on how much they encourage healthy choices, promote social interaction, provide access to health advice and promote positive mental wellbeing.

Preston was ranked the least healthy retail area in the country.

Mr Godwin added: “From a BID perspective, we are aware of the need to work closely with all of our partners, including the cathedral, national retailers and more than 200 independent businesses, to stimulate and encourage sustained, healthy growth and additional footfall in our city.”