Ghost Town Britain refers to the ongoing loss of local facilities and services including, amongst others: shops, markets, Post Offices, pubs, bank branches and health centres, etc.

The term 'Ghost Town Britain' was initially coined[citation needed] by the British think-tank the New Economics Foundation.

Ghost Town Britain refers to the ongoing loss of local facilities and services including, amongst others: shops, markets, Post Offices, pubs, bank branches and health centres, etc.

The SoS is then under a duty to 'reach agreement' with councils, via their representative body, the Local Government Association (the LGA – called 'the selector' in the Act) on which proposals will be given priority.

The Act seeks to open up the work of local communities to greater transparency by including 'local people' in the proposal process.

Councils then must 'reach agreement' (not just consult) with those panels regarding ideas for proposals to put to the SoS for government action.