Shop Local: Chamber of Trade backs our campaign

Our papers have joined forces with Johnston Press titles across the country in starting the petition, entitled Shop Local.

The campaign is a response to the crippling effect of the high and unfair tax on local businesses on the high street, with shops forced into closure on a daily basis.

It has also been backed by the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) and local MPs.

Chamber president Trish Makepeace said: “The business rates are an absolute killer. They’ve got out of hand now and something has to be done. Ideally we could do with a reduction in the rates as that would have an immediate impact.

“We’ve been on at the powers that be about the rates for years now but nobody seems to listen. The rates are higher than what some of the rents are now, and that shouldn’t be the case.”

The tax is due for a review in 2017, but Mrs Makepeace argued that action needs to be taken as soon as possible. “Something needs to be done before 2017 because it will be too late by then,” she added.

“I know the Reporter Series has been very supportive of the town centre and business in the past so good on it for doing this campaign.”

Click here to add your name to the petition.